Bridge still a train wreck

Like an ancient ruin from the Roman Empire, the CSX railroad bridge above South 25th Street appears to deteriorate by the minute.

Those who live and work in the area around the bridge have been increasingly concerned with the condition of the 94-year-old structure, which extends from Passyunk to Washington avenues.

A Review story in June 2003 brought the state of the bridge to the attention of CSX representatives and members of City Council President Anna Verna’s office, who observed pieces of concrete that had fallen from the bridge’s viaduct encasements.

According to a copy of a letter written by Deputy Managing Director James Donaghy, CSX pledged to repair the damaged viaducts one section at a time — a rate that would have lasted 266 years, the letter stated.

Still, the city promised to work out a rehabilitation plan with the railway company, and meetings were supposed to have begun by November 2003.

Now, local businesses and community leaders are expressing outrage that officials have not followed through.

"I haven’t seen any repair plans or heard if they’re coming back to do more work," said Joe Orlando, the president of Cobra Construction Company, 25th and Reed streets. "You don’t need to be an engineer to see how dangerous this bridge is. It’s only a matter of time before a chunk of it falls off and kills somebody."

Orlando said he worries for people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods and is surprised that the city hasn’t taken a more proactive role.

"Let the mayor and some of the Council members drive up here every day," he said.

The city’s engineers have developed a proposal to repair the damaged bridge, according to Fran Dougherty, a special assistant to the managing director, but they are currently at odds with another plan proposed by the Streets Department.

The engineers’ recommendation "was vetted out last year, but the Streets Department had another plan in mind," Dougherty said.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Streets Department said it was still investigating the matter.

At press time, none of the city officials who were reached for comment were aware of any progress on a rehabilitation plan.

"We’re concerned that the right decision gets made, and that it gets made quickly," said Verna’s spokesperson, Bob Previdi. "For now, though, we’re waiting to hear what the Streets Department wants to do."

Due to departmental reorganization, Donaghy is no longer involved with the CSX talks, but said things were progressing well as recently as December.

"We were having pretty fruitful discussions with them," Donaghy said. "They were receptive to increasing the amount of work they do on the bridge each year, and we were going to identify parts of the bridge that were in need of repair the most."

The government’s loose grasp on the status of the potentially dangerous situation has incensed some residents, including Robert Wilbowe, of the South Philadelphia Rainbow Committee, a Grays Ferry-based civic organization.

"No one ever talks to us," Willbowe said, contending that the lower-income area is not a top concern to politicians. "I mean, they can ignore us all they want, but if that bridge winds up killing somebody, it’ll be their problem."

Orlando claims that the area underneath the bridge, which is unlit, already has contributed to a few fatal car accidents.

"They need to bring this thing into the 21st century. I hear about a lot of people who can’t see when they turn under the bridge and get into accidents," Orlando said. "I just hope no one ever rams into one of those columns, because they won’t hold."

Indeed, the concrete on the fronts of many columns has worn away, revealing the steel skeletal structure underneath.

One area business owner, who declined to be identified, said some people have taken to painting the columns in an effort to both advertise and cover up an ugly problem.

"It’s just so old, it’s wearing away," she said. Although she acknowledged that the deteriorating bridge poses a danger to those traveling under it, the woman offered up some defense on behalf of CSX.

"Maybe they can’t keep up with it. Maybe the cost to repair the whole thing would be astronomical," she said.

CSX, for its part, maintains the structure is sound, said company spokesperson Misty Skipper.

She acknowledged that the company hasn’t met with the city for months, but said they haven’t forgotten about the bridge.

"We will contine to inspect the bridge and make interim repairs as needed."

Wilbowe said he regularly tries to contact the company to set up a meeting, but is passed around from person to person without ever getting an answer.

He said that he had better results with Conrail, the railroad’s previous owner.

"We just want to sit down and talk with them. I’d still like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but we will turn to organizing protests," Wilbowe said.

In Donaghy’s letter, the city stated its belief that the maintenance of the bridge falls solely on CSX’s shoulders.

However, if it was determined that the bridge posed an immediate threat to public safety, the city could close off 25th Street.

"If this was on City Line Avenue or in a wealthier part of the city, there would be a rush to fix it. They’re taking advantage of the people around here because they’re poor," Orlando said. "And to say that it would take 266 years to fix the bridge … what a disgrace."