41st Bridge Reopens After More Than 20 Years Of Detours
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Residents who live in adjacent Belmont and Parkside neighborhoods are now reunited, with the re-opening of the 41st Street Bridge, which had been closed 22-years.
On the Belmont side, outside Second Antioch Baptist Church, folks rejoiced.
"It was closed 20 years."
Cynthia Cropper of Pennsgrove Street, just off Mantua Avenue, endured a generation of detours.
"When I was little, my mom used to bring us over this bridge."
Tawa: 'All these years, what have you been doing?'
"Going the long way, taking the 42nd Street Bridge, and coming on over."
Another neighbor, Porshaetta Brown, says that the brand new bridge not only spruces up the neighborhood, but it also makes transportation connections easier, to hop on and off the 40 bus and 15 trolley.
"I just got off the 40 bus. I was like, 'thank you Jesus.' My house is right there. All that bumpin' and bangin', I'm glad it's fixed."
On the other side, at 41st and Poplar, inside the West Philadelphia Senior Citizen Center, folks had some mixed feelings.
"Because now it's taken our parking spots that we had."
"The way they speed through our blocks is unconscionable."
"I think a speed bump is needed."
The span features new sidewalks and mesh walls to view the city skyline.
