Chestnut Street Bridges Project Named Transportation Project of the Year

Awards, Projects | October 18, 2024

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A photo of the Chestnut Street bridges from above

PHILADELPHIA, PA—The Chestnut Street Bridges project was awarded the Transportation Project of the Year award at the 31st Transportation, Building & Construction Awards Luncheon, an event benefiting the March of Dimes. The $105.4M project addressed structural deficiencies across seven bridges and two retaining walls in Center City Philadelphia, significantly enhancing safety and efficiency for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Chestnut Street, which carries 18,300 vehicles daily, serves as a crucial link between West Philadelphia and Center City. Just one block south of a major multi-modal transportation hub, Chestnut Street and Schuylkill Avenue West play an essential role in connecting residents, commuters and visitors to nearby schools and businesses. This made the rehabilitation project a high priority for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which selected Benesch to lead the design efforts.

Key improvements included reinforcing five steel bridges and two masonry arch bridges, replacing sidewalks and bridge decks and repairing the East River Wall, which supports the Schuylkill River Trail. Additionally, the project introduced a parking-protected bicycle lane, widened sidewalks and installed Philadelphia’s first bicycle signal at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Schuylkill Avenue West.

The project’s complex urban setting, spanning Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor on the west side and CSX’s double-track line along the east side of the Schuylkill River, presented significant coordination challenges. These complexities required close collaboration with railroads and various agencies to secure the necessary reviews and approvals, ensuring the project stayed on track through the design and construction phases.

With improved safety and accessibility for all modes of transportation, the Chestnut Street Bridges project ensures this key corridor will continue to support Philadelphia’s growing transportation needs well into the future. On behalf of the project team, PENNDOT accepted the Transportation Project of the Year award on October 16. Learn more about Benesch’s work on the project here.