Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail Line to be suspended during bridge work

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- SEPTA announced plans to rehab five bridges along the Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail Line.

The work is set to begin on Sunday, June 15, and run through September 2. As a result, the entire Chestnut Hill East Line will be suspended.

"Over the next 11 weeks, we will be simultaneously rehabilitating five bridges that carry the line between this station and Center City Philadelphia," said Scott Sauer, SEPTA's general manager.

The five bridges being worked on are the Wayne Avenue Bridge, Logan Street Bridge, Chew Avenue Bridge, Mt. Pleasant Avenue Bridge, and the Cresheim Valley Drive Bridges.

Sauer said one of the bridges was built in 1893, while the others date back to the early 1900s.

SEPTA says the aging infrastructure is in desperate need of repairs, which will include the removal and rehabilitation of track structure, waterproofing, structural repairs, and painting, among other things.

"By utilizing the summer months for most of this work, when ridership is lower, we hope to keep disruptions to a minimum," Sauer explained during a news conference on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Action News reporter Caroline Goggin and photographer Marc Erick rode the Chestnut Hill East Line to speak with riders about the summer closure.

Lilah Thompson, of Mt. Airy, said, "I guess we'll transition to Chestnut Hill West, but I don't feel like it's enough. I feel like there should be more options."

"It's pretty inconvenient. I take the train three times a week, and Chestnut Hill West is just a lot further away," she added.

According to SEPTA, the roughly 2,800 passengers who rely on the line on a daily basis will either need to switch to Chestnut Hill West or use the Route 23 bus line.

"I was just going to get an electric scooter or something like that. I'm just going to take Chestnut Hill West," said Evan O'Garro, of Mt. Airy.

O'Garro also told Action News, "I don't want the bridges to collapse. I get that summer is probably going to be less ridership because schools are out, but I also have to go to work. "

During Wednesday's press conference, SEPTA representatives said they know this will be an inconvenience for riders, but they also said they appreciate the understanding.

Repairing the bridges, according to SEPTA, will cost $20 million. The agency said it is also spending another $17 million on improvements to the Chestnut Hill East Station.

Sauer said this is the most critical month in SEPTA's history as the agency works to ensure there is funding in the state budget to help with its budget crisis.