A jogger heads west on the new South Street Bridge.

The South Street Bridge opened Nov. 6 after two years of reconstruction, giving West Philadelphians their path back to South Philly.

Local politicos lauded themselves and developers for getting the bridge done ahead of schedule and under budget. Little mention was made that the final product comes 18 years after design work began. But, fair enough, we got our bridge back.

The bridge isn’t much to look at it – strips of galvanized steel and concrete – but it’s functional attributes are attractive.

They include (soon to be?) painted bike paths and pedestrain friendly crosswalks. Before it closed, an estimated 23,000 people per day used the bridge (by foot, pedal and motorized vehicle). Its reopening could not come soon enough for business owners on both sides of the Schuylkill. Development in Graduate Hospital or “South of South” areas are reportedly scheduled to begin soon.