Manayunk Bridge Re-Opens After 30 Years, Creates New Connection To Other Trails
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- After 30 years the iconic Manayunk bridge over the Schuylkill River has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists. It links Lower Merion Township with Philadelphia and creates a new connection in a network of trails in the region known as the Circuit Trails.
The Manayunk Bridge Trail is a .6 mile stretch. It's the only bridge exclusively for pedestrian and cyclist over the Schuylkill river. The project cost $5.76 million dollars and work began 4 years ago.
"This will provide an additional way for people to use the bridge and the Kinwood Heritage Trail and streets to get to the Schuylkill River Trail to and from Montgomery County and Philadelphia," says Sarah Clark-Steward who is with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
Elizabeth Rogan the President of the Board of Commissioners for Lower Merion Township says the Manayunk Bridge trail demonstrates the value and the benefit gained in partnerships.
"The bridge goes over independent transit authority's rails, SEPTA. It spans two different municipalities in two different counties and each entity has its own priorities and its own unique ways of doing things. It's a third of a mile that crosses an interstate highway a federal waterway a main intermodal railroad, a commuter railroad."
The project is a part of the circuit trails which includes 300 miles of completed trails in the region with an additional 50 miles in development.