The Bridge has been in a state of disrepair for years, and according to expert engineers the crumbling infrastructure is too weak to withstand this winter season intact. In fact, over the last several years the infrastructure failings have required vehicle weight restrictions be implemented so to as extend the service-life of the Bridge. This restricts trucks and buses, including SEPTA, Penn Transit, and delivery trucks bringing supplies to our campus. As a result, Penn's campus has already been managing the inconvenience of a partially functional bridge for more than one year.

Construction takes place on the actual bridge span that is over the river. There is no demolition or new construction west of the expressway.

The estimated length of closing is 18-24 months.

This is a public works project which will cost approximately $45 million for the redevelopment (including design and construction). It is financed via 80% Federal, 15% State, and 5% City funds.

Penn’s role is minor, although the safety of the Bridge and the well being of those who cross is of critical importance to Penn. We have had the opportunity to review the completed plan, including the engineering and technical conclusions, and make small suggestions that we believe will enhance the pedestrian experience and design.

It is a temporary closing and in the short term has many obstacles to manage, but all are tolerable with smart planning and efficient construction management. To find out more about options and resources available to you, visit the Getting to Penn section of this website.

The City of Philadelphia has created alternative routes to the emergency room at HUP, and dispatchers will work with other emergency rooms to aid ambulances to arrive at their closest destination.

This closure off the South Street Bridge will create significant vehicular congestion throughout University City for Penn employees as well as our suppliers delivering equipment and supplies to campus locations. Departments are encouraged to plan ahead when ordering critical supplies. Please plan your purchases in advance and consolidate requirements within your office or laboratory so that there will be fewer orders and shipments to Penn. Purchasing Services is also working with our suppliers to minimize the impact of the bridge closure on deliveries to Penn.

Please direct all South Street Bridge related supplier delivery questions to Purchasing Services at service@upenn.edu.

The now-decrepit Bridge presently connects University City to expansive Center City neighborhoods such as Fitler Square, Naval Square and other "South of South" neighborhoods. Many Penn faculty, students and staff use the South Street Bridge as pedestrians and cyclists. Penn faculty, students and staff who live off campus and use the South Street Bridge as a main and critical link for access to campus will be directed to use the Walnut Street Bridge to cross the River.

Although the project is maintained by the City of Philadelphia, there is a University of Pennsylvania Communications Committee assigned to help and provide guidance to those with questions or feedback pertaining to the project and University based resources. The committee can be reached via email at: .

The South Street Bridge Homepage has two sets of RSS feeds that you can subscribe to or simply check back from time to time for updates. The two feeds are:

• Public Safety Advisory’s and Updates
  This RSS feed provides advisories for any public safety related issue, pertaining to the South Street Bridge, that could potentially affect the immediate area such as traffic advisories and construction notices.

• News, Events & Updates
  This RSS feed will provide any general news, updates and press releases that are obtained by the University regarding the city’s construction project.

  Both links are located just below the map thumbnail on the right side of the homepage.
  
  Want to learn more about RSS feeds? Visit the University Communications Website for a description of how they work!

It is also recommended to listen to your local tv and radio news channels, and check the Philadelphia’s South Street Bridge Website at: http://potholes.phila.gov/southstreetbridge

Once construction starts the South Street Bridge will be fully closed and the entire Bridge platform will be demolished preventing any travel across the river.

No, the Bridge ramp will be closed. Whether you are traveling East or West on I-76, you should plan to exit onto Market Street at the 30th Street Exit. To view the detour, visit the Detours, Maps and Directions page on this website.

No, the station stop will be accessible only from Convention Avenue side. The stairs going northward to the Bridge will be closed during reconstruction, but will reopen when the project is concluded.

The University City station will remain open and accessible during the South Street Bridge reconstruction project. The station exit at South Street will be closed, requiring passengers to utilize the station exit at Convention Avenue. The University of Pennsylvania has not been informed by SEPTA of any service changes.

Please continue to check directly with SEPTA at http://www.septa.org/ for information about their services.

Access to Hollenack is now available by foot via the newly installed weave bridge. Please refer to the map below for how you can access the weave bridge.

Downoad a copy of this map

Once the bridge closes, there will be no vehicular or pedestrian traffic allowed over the bridge. The City of Philadelphia has provided 4 alternate routes. You can view them by visiting the Detours, Maps and Directions portion of this site. The map on the webpage is powered by Google, and can help you plan alternate routes to campus. There are also directions below the map to help you get to campus using the City’s planned detour or other means of transportation.

All parking patrons (UPHS and Penn) who give up their parking will be guaranteed a space in the same garage or lot when/ if they return (for 60 days after completion of the Bridge project). This guarantee is in effect for all locations, including those with waiting lists.

Penn Transportation and Parking offers a discounted parking card ($10 per use for 25 uses vs. the normal $13 rate) to patrons giving up their parking for the South Street Bridge closure. The card will cost $250 and can be paid via a one time payroll deduction, credit card or cash. The card will have no expiration date and can be used in 3 garages. (34th and Chestnut, 38th and Walnut or 40th and Walnut.)

Penn Transportation and Parking offers discounted rates of $300 per year for motorcycles, mopeds & scooters.

Please be reminded that according to the Pa. Motor Vehicle Code motorcycles, scooters and peda-cycles are included as “motor vehicles.” This classification and Penn's Parking Policy prohibiting “unauthorized vehicles” from parking on University of Pennsylvania property makes it illegal to place your moped or motorized scooter at bikeracks, against building walls or at any other unauthorized area. Doing so not only creates a potential fire hazard for the building occupants, but also can become a potential explosive device, endangering the safety of evacuees and emergency personnel.

There are many options available to you should you choose not to drive onto Penn’s campus. With the closing of the South Street Bridge, now is also the time to consider the options and resources that Penn has in place, some of which you may not have realized existed!

To learn more about what Penn offers its community members and the options available to visitors, visit the Getting to Penn section of the South Street Bridge website.

Penn has partnered with PhillyCarShare to provide 40 vehicles on or around campus for use by Penn faculty, staff and students who need to travel on University business.

This joint effort offers special contract rates and insurance coverage to Penn employees and university organizations that use PhillyCarShare for official Penn business. Plus employees who set up dual business and personal accounts may receive free driving credits in their personal account.

You can view locations of PhillyCarShare Pods on Penn's Campus by visiting the "Getting to Penn" section of this website. To learn more about Penn and the PhillyCarShare program visit http://www.purchasing.upenn.edu/buyinfo/suppliers/phillycarshare.php.

The South Street Bridge Homepage has two sets of RSS feeds that you can subscribe to or simply check back from time to time for updates. The two feeds are:

• Public Safety Advisory’s and Updates
  This RSS feed provides advisories for any public safety related issue, pertaining to the South Street Bridge, that could potentially affect the immediate area such as traffic advisories and construction notices.

• News, Events & Updates
  This RSS feed will provide any general news, updates and press releases that are obtained by the University regarding the city’s construction project.

  Both links are located just below the map thumbnail on the right side of the homepage.
  
  Want to learn more about RSS feeds? Visit the University Communications Website for a description of how they work!

It is also recommended to listen to your local tv and radio news channels, and check the Philadelphia’s South Street Bridge Website at: http://potholes.phila.gov/southstreetbridge

The entire South Street Reconstruction Project is being managed by the City of Philadelphia. This means that they are responsible for the oversight of bridge construction, traffic signs and detours.

The University has supported flexible work options for over a decade. Flexible work options offer creative approaches for meeting business needs while providing greater flexibility than traditional work arrangements. These approaches involve the use of non-standard work hours, location, and/or job structures.

The Human Resources website provides guidelines for flexible work options at Penn in consideration of organizational needs and individual capabilities. If you’re thinking about requesting a flexible work arrangement, please visit the Human Resources website for details, including how to submit a proposal to your supervisor.

The Division of Public Safety provides a 24/7 Walking Escort Service available to anyone living, commuting or visiting within the Penn Patrol Zone.

To obtain a walking escort, simply call 215-898-WALK or you can approach any guard (typically in bright yellow uniform) and request a walking escort.

Click her for more information on the Walking Escort Service

You may also use any blue light phone on campus to call for a walking escort, report suspicious behavior or call for emergency help. Just pick up the receiver or press the button on the yellow box to speak to a dispatcher.

Click here to view a map of blue phones.

Bicycles should be secured using a high grade U-lock at all times. If the bicycle has quick release tires, you should make sure that they are threaded through the lock as well. DO NOT USE CABLE LOCKS. Cable locks are easily defeated and are ineffective in deterring theft.

For a graphic on properly locking your bicycle click here.

Bicycle Registration:

Faculty, staff and students may register their bicycle with the Division of Public Safety. Doing so reduces the potential of theft and increases the chances of recovery in the event that it is lost or stolen.

• Faculty/Staff register at: www.upenn.edu/u@penn
• Student register at: www.campusexpress.upenn.edu

Students may also purchase a U-Lock through campus express.

The Division of Public Safety is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its entire community. Within the legal jurisdiction of the Penn Patrol Zone, comprising 30th to 43rd Streets and Market to Baltimore Streets, the University of Pennsylvania Police Department retains general law enforcement authority and order maintenance for this area.

DPS provides many layers of security which includes CCTV monitoring, Emergency Blue Light Phones throughout campus, walking escorts, electronic building access control, Fire Safety and emergency preparedness initiatives, emergency notification systems, victim support services, self-defense courses and continued partnerships with local, state and federal agencies and security partners AlliedBarton and SST.

To find out more about the services DPS provides, please visit the Public Safety Website or click on any of the quick links below.

• Walk & Ride Escorts
• CCTV Technology
• Map of all Pan-Tilt-Zoom Cameras
• Map of Cellular Blue Light Phones
• UPennAlert Emergency Notification System
• Important Contact Information
• Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Information

If at anytime you feel unsafe and you are within the area of 30th to 43rd Streets and Market to Baltimore Streets, you should call the Penn Police immediately by dialing 215-573-3333 or by dialing 511 from any campus phone.

You can also go to any blue light phone located throughout campus and simply pick up the receiver or press the button to speak to a Public Safety dispatcher.

Click here to view a map of cellular blue light phones

All members of the community are encouraged to report suspicious behavior to the Penn Police.

The South Street Bridge Homepage has two sets of RSS feeds that you can subscribe to or simply check back from time to time for updates. The two feeds are:

• Public Safety Advisory’s and Updates
  This RSS feed provides advisories for any public safety related issue, pertaining to the South Street Bridge, that could potentially affect the immediate area such as traffic advisories and construction notices.

• News, Events & Updates
  This RSS feed will provide any general news, updates and press releases that are obtained by the University regarding the city’s construction project.

  Both links are located just below the map thumbnail on the right side of the homepage.
  
  

It is also recommended to listen to your local tv and radio news channels, and check the Philadelphia’s South Street Bridge Website at: http://potholes.phila.gov/southstreetbridge

If you have other questions regarding the project you may send an email to .