PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Schuylkill River Bridge Trail adds a key connection to the Schuylkill River Trail system in Philadelphia, creating a safe and scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists between University City and Center City. This cable-stayed pedestrian bridge not only supports sustainable transportation but also enhances the urban landscape with a visually striking design.

Precast concrete elements were essential to the project’s success. Produced to tight PCI-Certified tolerances by Northeast Prestressed Products, the utilization of precast deck panels, girders and beams accelerated installation, all while minimizing environmental impact on the river and surrounding infrastructure, and ensuring long-term durability in a challenging urban environment.

PRECAST SOLUTION

The Schuylkill River Bridge Trail project provides a vital pedestrian and bicycle link over the Schuylkill River, connecting major activity centers and closing gaps in the regional trail network. Designed for safety, durability, and aesthetics, the bridge features a cable-stayed main span supported by twin pylons, with precast concrete approaches incorporating curved U girders, bulb tees, and precast deck slabs.

The use of these precast components allowed for rapid installation in constrained conditions while reducing environmental impacts. The curved U girders provided enhanced structural efficiency and architectural appeal, while the bulb tees and deck slabs contributed to a durable, high-performance bridge deck system.

This project exemplifies how precast solutions provided the city of Philadelphia with the delivery of superior performance, speed, and sustainability in complex infrastructure projects, especially those involving environmentally sensitive and high-traffic pedestrian corridors.

Owner

City of Philadelphia

PCI Certified Precast Producer

Northeast Prestressed Products

Engineer

AECOM

General Contractor

PKF Mark III, Inc.

Key Project Attributes

• Precast deck panels and approach girders allowed for rapid installation, minimizing time over the river and active rail lines.  
• Prefabricated elements simplified logistics and minimized disruption in a congested metropolitan work zone.
• Closes a major gap in Philadelphia’s multi-use trail network, linking Christian Street to Greys Ferry Crescent.
• Construction over the Schuylkill River and active rail lines required precise engineering and accelerated installation.

Project/Precast Scope

• Cable-stayed main span, directly integrated with precast concrete approaches which utilize custom curved U girders, bulb tees, and precast deck slabs.

• Precast approach components enabled rapid installation in constrained urban conditions while reducing community and environmental impacts.
• Curved U girders provided structural efficiency within context of the extension along the water,
• Bulb tees and deck slabs contributed to a durable, high-performance bridge deck system.