Christian to Crescent Trail Connector bridge
Christian to Crescent Trail Connector bridge | |
|---|---|
The Christian to Crescent Trail Connector bridge carries the Schuylkill River Trail on its opening day, May 17, 2025. | |
| Coordinates | 39°56′30″N 75°11′36″W / 39.94178°N 75.19325°W |
| Carries | Schuylkill River Trail |
| Locale | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | woven-harp cable-stayed bridge, beam bridge |
| Width | 25 ft (7.6 m)[1] |
| Height | Towers: 168 ft (51.2 m)[1] |
| Longest span | 650 ft (198.1 m)[1] |
| Clearance below | 20 ft (6.1 m)[1] |
| History | |
| Architect | Bradley Touchstone, AECOM[1] |
| Designer | AECOM[1] |
| Constructed by | PKF-Mark III, Inc.[1] |
| Construction cost | $22 million[1] |
| Opened | May 17, 2025 |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Christian to Crescent Trail Connector bridge | |
The Christian to Crescent Trail Connector bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that runs along the east bank of the Schuylkill River between Christian Street and Grays Ferry Crescent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It carries part of the Schuylkill River Trail, which is itself part of the East Coast Greenway. Built and maintained by the City of Philadelphia Streets Department, it opened in 2025. The bridge was designed to encourage residents of South and Southwest Philadelphia to access Center City without a car; motorized traffic is not permitted on the bridge.[2][3]
History
In 2009, the Fairmount Park Commission approved purchase of land to extend the Schuylkill River Trail south from its then-terminus at South Street to Christian Street.[4] The new segment opened in 2018, dead-ending at Christian Street.[5] The trail's southbound continuation on land was impeded by a Veolia steam energy plant that sits on the bank of the Schuylkill and requires water access to receive occasional gas deliveries by boat.[6]
In addition, a freight rail line known as the Philadelphia Subdivision hugs the east bank, which left little room for a trail.[7] The freight line is operated by CSX Transportation, which donated a small plot between the tracks and the river to the city to facilitate trail construction.[7]
A feasibility study was conducted in 2019, and in 2020, the City of Philadelphia applied for a federal permit to construct the bridge.[8] The bridge opened on May 17, 2025. The main cable-stayed span cost $22 million to construct, and the overall project cost $48 million.[1]
Design
The bridge rises above the Schuylkill River, but unlike most bridges, does not cross from one bank to the other. Instead, it connects the Schuylkill River Trail to the Grays Ferry Crescent, which were previously separated by a rail line and industrial area.[7][3]
The cable-stayed bridge has two towers and a woven harp design, with a main span of 650 feet about 20 feet above the water.[7][3][8] The main span follows an S-curve.[1] The northern and southern approaches are beam bridges constructed on piers sunk into the river.[9] It follows the east bank of the river, passing under the Schuylkill Arsenal Railroad Bridge and the Schuylkill Expressway Bridge.[9][7] Users have views of the river and the University of Pennsylvania baseball field on the west bank from the overlooks near each tower.[8] At night, the bridge is illuminated.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kirkpatrick, Trevor; Cummings, Joel (Fall 2025). "Bridging Innovation and Practicality: The Schuylkill Banks Christian to Crescent Cable-Stayed Bridge" (PDF). ASPIRE. pp. 14–16. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Schuylkill River Trail extension will connect Center City to South Philly for bikers, pedestrians". NBC10 Philadelphia. April 16, 2025. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Althouse, Michaela (May 14, 2025). "New Schuylkill River trail segment and bridge connecting Grays Ferry to Center City opens Saturday". Philly Voice. Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ Salisbury, Stephen (June 3, 2009). "Schuylkill River Park adds two sections". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Romero, Melissa (February 1, 2018). "The South to Christian segment on the Schuylkill River Trail is open". Curbed Philly. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Saksa, Jim (February 16, 2016). "Councilman Johnson's bill clears path for Schuylkill River Trail extension to Christian Street". WHYY-FM. Archived from the original on May 15, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Read, Zoë (May 12, 2025). "Schuylkill River Trail expands to Grays Ferry with 650-foot cable bridge". WHYY-FM. Archived from the original on September 30, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c Kummer, Frank (June 22, 2020). "Philly proposes $43 million Schuylkill trail extension to include bridge with scenic overlook". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ a b Public Notice (PDF), Philadelphia District, US Army Corps of Engineers, June 22, 2020, archived (PDF) from the original on September 5, 2025, retrieved October 19, 2025