NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
MULBERRY STREET BRIDGE RAMP REOPENS AFTER $2.4 MILLION CITY UPGRADE; ADDITIONAL WORK PLANNEDMayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the city’s complete restoration of the Mulberry Street Bridge Ramp has been concluded and the span is now reopened to traffic to and from Cameron Street. The $2.4 million project began in April 2005. Reed said the major city infrastructure enhancement project involved the redecking of the ramp surface; installation of new expansion joints, railings, drainage devices, parapet walls and historic lighting fixtures; repair of the concrete arches and widening of the sidewalks, and repair work on the main bridge sidewalks and road surface. The new parapet walls and lighting fixtures have a distinctive “retro” appearance that was specially designed to reflect the ramp’s original “turn-of-the-century’ construction. The new lighting is considerably brighter and more evenly distributed. The Mayor said the repair work is an important part of the city’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its transportation infrastructure: “The Mulberry Street Bridge is an important conduit to the blossoming Derry Street corridor and the South Allison Hill area. It is one of the main commuter routes into the downtown, and carries literally thousands of workers to and from work each day, many of whom live in the nearby neighborhoods. Its access to Cameron Street helps to alleviate traffic congestion at other points around the city, and it has the added benefit of speeding emergency response to one of the city’s most densely populated areas.” Reed said the near year-long project was overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Engineering District 8-0, who provided construction management and inspection services. Jay Fulkroad & Son, Inc. was the General Contractor for the $2,427,634 project, with Pennoni Associates, Inc. serving as Design Engineer. The Mayor lauded the efforts of PennDOT in the project, noting that they are planning substantial additional deck restoration work on the bridge, now that the ramp is upgraded. New parapet walls and lighting fixtures, matching those already installed on the new ramp, are planned for the main bridge thanks to U.S. Congressman Tim Holden’s(PA-17th) successful efforts to obtain federal grant funding under the HR3 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU). $4 million in grant funding was secured by Holden to pay for new antique-styled lighting upgrades on both the Mulberry and the State Street Bridges. |
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