It would be REALLY cool to turn this unused bridge into a park. Have there been discussions around this idea? This idea is similar to the Reading Viaduct (http://www.readingviaduct.org) and High Line (http://www.thehighline.org/) projects.

Can one walk the route? I assume there is a temporary fence that prevents people from walking on the bridge, but I am curious.

__________________
"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation." - Nelson Mandela

That is a really cool idea. I never heard of those projects. I'm sure they want to preserve the bridge - a few years ago there was an effort to clean it up and give it a facelift. It was pretty dirty and weathered before that.

However, I heard there was some preliminary plans to re-open that rail line as part of the Schuykill Valley Metro.

this bridge should be reopened as a train bridge. the "facelift" was given to prevent concrete from falling on cars below (note how the face lift is incomplete.) This is part of the superior Penn C line to Reading which was scrapped (adopting the inferior Reading line as the R6). Ideally, I'd like to see service west from 30th and connect to Ivy Ridge via the bridge and then on to Phoenixville. The current R6 could be converted to metro type service. However, the powers that be seem intent on bldg the SVM which would also uses this bridge. service along this bridge would connect <an/rox with Merion, Bala/City Line, Wynnefield, and the Mann (west fairmount) as well as a quick shot to 30th.

__________________
"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

SVM?

__________________
"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation." - Nelson Mandela

sorry, Schuylkill Valley Metro

__________________
"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

SVM=Schuylkill Valley Metro

This would be the smartest approach. Currently, the other leg of the R6 goes from 30th street to Wynnfield, Bala and Cynwyd stations. It would not take much effort to re-open the existing railbed and have it cross the river to the old Manayunk station at dupont street, then on to Ivy Ridge. The other R6 line has been getting very crowded in recent years. During the morning rush, there are so many people on the platform at Ivy Ridge, that there is barely any room to stand. Not to mention that it is dangerous and doesn't have much shelter.

Thanks. I agree that it should be used as a rail line. I follow the train route on one of my back ways to PHL. Connecting to the R5 as it did in the past would rock.

__________________
"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation." - Nelson Mandela

The outside of the bridge received a face lift, but the inside is mush. I heard they drilled into the concrete and found it was not suitable for a train to use the bridge. The vibrations would take a toll on it.

__________________
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people".

absolutely, it needs some attention. in the end i think it woudl be worth it. a project like that has benefits for decades. kind of funny that a company (Penn C)once built so many of these and now an entire state has trouble funding them. Really this would cut ten minutes off a commute to cc and help reduce congestion on the schuylkill. not to mention it woudl help connect philadelphians with each other. so pug's on both sides of the river can hash things out with hoagies and beers. as it is now we merely brush by each other in center city. I never realized how close the mann was to 52nd and parkside (unrelated topic).

__________________
"You down wit OPM?"
Fumo: "Yeah, you know me!"

Do you play Madden?

__________________
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people".