Skip to main content
Walnut Street Bridge Repair

Walnut St. Bridge

In Progress
Map Pin

Districts 2 & 7

Roads & Bridges

Roads & Bridges

March 11, 2026

March 2026 Progress Update

We continue to make significant strides towards our fall 2026 reopening! Here is the latest.

The heavy containment tarps near the South Shore towards downtown (Span 1) have been removed. This means ALL 6 spans have been sandblasted, primed and painted. What a transformation! This also marks the end of large-scale containment on the bridge. While some minor touch-up painting remains, clearing these tarps is a visual signal that the most intensive painting phases are behind us. But we still have work to do.

We are replacing the bridge's decking with durable Alaskan yellow cedar. The progress on the deck is currently:

  • Completed: 1,203 linear feet (including Coolidge Park, Span 6, and most of Span 5).
  • Remaining: 1,166 linear feet (Spans 1 through 4).

A better way to think about it: over half of the bridge has new decking.

Structural repairs continue a step ahead of decking, providing a solid foundation for the new wood.

With the new wood in place, our electrical teams are already securing conduits and utilities. We are moving quickly toward pulling wire and installing the new light poles.

Still on schedule?
Yes. At this time, we remain on track to reopen in late September 2026.

March 2, 2026

Weather Leads to Slight Setback

We continue to make significant strides towards our fall 2026 reopening! Here is the latest.

Following a minor weather-related setback last week, we are back on track with our infrastructure project. Recent heavy rains washed stone debris into the newly installed pipe, requiring contractors to manually clear the line. Protective measures have since been implemented at the pipe openings to prevent further debris entry during future rain events.

With the new system now clear, we are finishing the final connections to our existing lines and will begin the abandonment process for the old pipe this week. Once that phase is concluded, we will move immediately into site stabilization and backfilling. Weather permitting, we anticipate beginning paving operations within the next two weeks.