News

Upcoming bridge maintenance along Schuylkill Banks

Construction sign posted alongside the river in front of the Market Street Bridge, saying "Warning: bridge construction, use extreme caution when boating in this area"

Philadelphia has a long history with its bridges. Over the last two centuries, many different iterations of river crossings have been utilized and updated in various locations; the Market Street Bridge alone is on its sixth incarnation.

Thanks to PennDOT, many bridges spanning the tidal Schuylkill River are currently undergoing rehabilitation. Here we’re collecting the announcements that have been made for bridges along Schuylkill Banks and sharing trail impacts as we understand them today. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

Market Street Bridge

Image of the Market Street Bridge on a sunny afternoon taken from the southeast side of the river

As of August 2026, work is already underway to help restore this bridge to its original 1930’s luster alongside other key updates. According to PennDOT:

Market Street’s pavement will be reconfigured from Schuylkill Avenue West to 23rd Street. A two-way bicycle lane with concrete separators will be installed and connected to the existing bicycle facilities at 23rd Street. A bicycle signal will be installed at Market Street and Schuylkill Avenue West. Modifications and upgrades will also be made to traffic signals, signage, and lighting in the project area.
This project will repair the east and west river walls supporting the Schuylkill River banks from Market Street to south of Walnut Street, and repair the pedestrian staircase between the Schuylkill River Trail and JFK Boulevard.

University City District has a great overview of the near- and longer-term impacts, as well as more details about what repairs are being made in this multiyear project. For the most current updates, watch the PennDOT Market Street Bridge project status page.

The trail underneath the Market Street Bridge will undergo construction but remain open for the time being. Please use caution when entering this section of the trail.

Walnut & Chestnut Street Bridges

Walnut Street Bridge as seen from the southeast, with the Chestnut Street Bridge in the background.

As part of the larger Market Street Bridge project, PennDOT is also doing more minor work on the two bridges just south of Market Street. From Billy Penn:

On the Walnut Street bridge, the road will be resurfaced between 22nd and 33rd streets, a parking-separated bike lane will be installed, and traffic signals will be modified.
At the Chestnut Street bridge, which PennDOT rehabilitated a few years ago, workers will complete work on an arch over the CSX tracks, and a nearby section of the wall that supports the side of the river will be repaired, officials said.

The sheds and trailer under the Walnut Street Bridge have been temporarily reconfigured on the east side of the trail to accommodate the Walnut Street Bridge project. Please watch out for occasional kayaks crossing the trail at this juncture.

University Avenue Bridge

Google Street view image of the University Arts Bridge
Image courtesy Google Maps Street View

Designed by Paul Philippe Cret, who was also responsible for the Ben Franklin Bridge, the University Avenue Bridge is another Philadelphia architectural landmark. Beginning mid-August, the bridge will undergo a variety of repairs. According to PennDOT, this includes:

...steel repairs to the structure’s stringers, floor beams and diaphragms. In addition, the operator towers along the northbound lanes will be cleaned, sealed, and fortified with fencing to prevent vandalism.

See more from Philly Voice about anticipated traffic impacts for the duration of the project, currently anticipated to run through December 2026.

As of now, there are no anticipated impacts to the Schuylkill River Trail at the University Avenue Bridge.