Platt Bridge Overnight Closure Scheduled in Southwest Philadelphia

The George C. Platt Memorial Bridge (Route 291) in southwest Philadelphia will be closed from 9 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 6) to 5:30 a.m. Friday (Sept. 7) for expansion joint replacement and concrete barrier relocation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced today.

Detours will be posted to direct Route 291/Penrose Avenue motorists around the bridge closure. The detours are:

• Eastbound Route 291 (Heading Away from Philadelphia International Airport): Follow Island Avenue to Enterprise Avenue to Interstate 95 North to Broad Street to Pattison Avenue to Route 291/Penrose Avenue; and
• Westbound Route 291/Penrose Avenue (Heading Toward Philadelphia International Airport): Follow Pattison Avenue to Broad Street to I-95 South to Enterprise Avenue to Island Avenue to Route 291.

This operation is part of PennDOT's $43 million project to keep the Platt Bridge in sound structural condition for the next 30 years. The contractor is painting the bridge's steel truss and structural steel underneath the approach spans to protect them from the elements; rehabilitating and resurfacing the center truss spans; resurfacing concrete approach spans; repairing structural steel; replacing or improving expansion joints; repairing concrete piers; repairing and replacing guide rail; and replacing damaged pedestrian railings.

The $42,776,325 project is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction is scheduled to finish in June 2014.

PennDOT's general contractor is the joint venture of Hercules Painting Company, Inc. of New Castle, Pa. and Vimas Painting Company, Inc. of Lowellville, Ohio.

Visit www.plattbridge.com for additional information on the Platt Bridge improvement project.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.