PATCO bridge work resumes after major overhaul

The $103 million reconstruction of the PATCO commuter rail tracks on the Ben Franklin Bridge is still in progress, but the most disruptive work is finished, allowing most train and automobile commuters to resume normal travel over the bridge.

Starting early this year, workers replaced 9,000 wooden ties that were 30 years old, laid six miles of new rail and replaced 100 steel beams. They are still installing new electrical and signal equipment on the two tracks.

The track beds on the north and south sides of the bridge were demolished and replaced with new concrete foundations for the new ties and tracks.

Working from specially built platforms under the bridge (and over the Delaware River and Interstate 95), the work crews removed old lead paint and rust and applied a new protective coating of paint to the rail platforms.

Trains operated on just one of the two tracks for much of the year to permit the work to proceed. Both tracks were temporarily returned to full service on Oct. 22.

On Thursday, PATCO trains began operating on a reduced schedule during extended weekends (from Thursday afternoon rush hour until Monday morning rush hour). That truncated schedule, requiring single-tracking across the bridge, will last until early February.

The entire construction project is to be completed by early 2016.

Source: Philly.com