Other name(s) Manayunk Viaduct Longest span 150 feet (46 m) Bridge type Arch bridge | Opened 1918 Location Manayunk | |
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Similar Schuylkill River, Schuylkill River Trail, Pemberton Rail‑Trail, Unami Creek, Calhoun Street Bridge | ||
New bike walking trail on manayunk bridge exit 338 rox myk
The Manayunk Bridge (a.k.a. Manayunk Viaduct) is a historic bridge in Pennsylvania across the Schuylkill River and adjacent Schuylkill Canal between Bala Cynwyd in Montgomery County and the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia. It is now used as an extension of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail to connect to the Schuylkill River Trail after a rail-to-trail conversion.
Contents
- New bike walking trail on manayunk bridge exit 338 rox myk
- Gopr0110 07 16 2016 manayunk bridge
- History
- Manayunk Bridge Trail
- References
Gopr0110 07 16 2016 manayunk bridge
History
Built by the former Schuylkill Valley Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, it is a large concrete open spandrel arch bridge built on a reverse curve, earning both the current bridge and its 1883 wrought-iron-truss predecessor the nickname of "S-Bridge." The bridge's challenging geometry was executed by T. L. Eyre, a Philadelphia contractor. Another notable feature is the saw-toothed construction joints along a 65-degree skew.
In 1976, SEPTA purchased the bridge for its Ivy Ridge Line (now Cynwyd Line). Ten years later, after weather-related expansion and contraction of the bridge, and the shedding of pieces of concrete due to spalling, SEPTA closed the bridge on October 25, 1986, truncating service at Cynwyd and suspended service to three of the line's six stations (Ivy Ridge, Manayunk, and Walnut Hill). Between 1996 and 1999, the bridge was stabilized and refurbished. The effort determined that the internal steel reinforcement was not compromised, as SEPTA had feared. Further investigation by Urban Engineers determined that the bridge was safe and only needed surface work to stop the spalling.
SEPTA has not resumed service to Ivy Ridge; in 1996 low ridership led SEPTA to consider discontinuing service to Cynwyd altogether.
Manayunk Bridge Trail
Between 2008 and June 2010, SEPTA removed all 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of tracks north of Cynwyd for the Cynwyd Heritage Trail and Ivy Ridge Rail Trail.
On October 30, 2015 the ribbon was cut on the Manayunk Bridge Trail, a conversion of the bridge for use by people walking and bicycling. Designed by Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP, the trail features separate areas for walking and bicycling, along with a shared plaza in the center of the bridge that can be programmed for special events. Railings and fencing are in keeping with the historic industrial nature of the bridge.