SEPTA has announced two major reconstruction projects in West and Southwest Philadelphia that will result in some street closures and affect service of trolley routes 11 and 36.

SEPTA will begin working on the complete replacement of the Woodland Avenue bridge, located on Woodland Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets. Street closures for the construction begin on Sunday, March 18, and the project is expected to be completed in Summer 2019.

During the construction, SEPTA Trolley Routes 11 and 36, which normally use the bridge, will be detoured to Chester Avenue between 49th Street and the 40th Street Portal. 

The Woodland Avenue bridge was constructed in the 1920s and has severely deteriorated due to age, weather and traffic. Weight restrictions are currently in place on the bridge due to its condition. Replacement is necessary for continued safe, reliable trolley service and for local vehicular traffic flow, according to SEPTA’s announcement.

In addition to the bridge replacement, the project will include the reconstruction of street, trolley tracks and sidewalks.

All streets in the construction areas will be closed to thru traffic, but local traffic will be permitted up to construction sites. Normal construction hours will be Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Night work may be required to maintain the project schedule.

Also on March 18, SEPTA will begin trolley track replacement on Elmwood Avenue between 59th and 65th Streets. During the project, buses will replace trolleys along the Route 36 from 80th Street and Eastwick Avenue to the 40th Street Trolley Portal. The project is expected to be completed on June 9.

The project will begin at 59th Street and progress west. Through lanes on Elmwood Avenue will be closed, up to three blocks at a time, to all traffic.

For more information about both projects and other announcements, visit septa.org.