PennDOT Engineering District 5 Executive Michael Rebert joined state and local officials, and project staff, for a ribbon cutting ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the rehabilitation of the Penn Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Schuylkill River Trail and Front Street in the City of Reading and West Reading Borough, Berks County.
“The Penn Street Bridge is a signature structure in Berks County, and a vital link between the communities of Reading and West Reading,” Rebert said. “The rehabilitation of this structure will ensure safe travel over the Schuylkill River for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists for decades to come.”
The project rehabilitated the 27-span concrete arch bridge. Work included concrete repair, superstructure replacement, ramp work at the interchange of Penn Street and US 422/West Shore Bypass, ornamental lighting, traffic signal work, new signs, new pavement markings and other miscellaneous construction. The rehabilitation began in December 2016.
J. D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, PA was the general contractor on the $42,581,705 project.
The Penn Street Bridge was originally constructed in 1913. It is 1,337 feet long and 80 feet wide. This section of Penn Street has an average daily traffic volume of 33,796 vehicles.
