PennDOT I-95 Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) Bridge Replacement
As part of the broader initiative to reconstruct I-95 in Philadelphia, PennDOT's Design Build project involves replacing and expanding the existing area over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets with a large cover that extends east over Christopher Columbus Boulevard at Penn's Landing. The partnership between PennDOT, the City of Philadelphia, and the Delaware River Waterfront Commission aims to improve pedestrian and multi-modal access between Center City and the popular Delaware River Waterfront. The project’s centerpiece will be the Park at Penn's Landing, a pedestrian-friendly park. Construction for this Design-Build project began in 2023, with completion scheduled for 2028.
MRCE is providing geotechnical and structural engineering services for the replacement and expansion of the existing cap and bridge structure, spanning both I-95 and Christopher Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut Streets for pedestrian and vehicular use. The project also includes extending the South Street pedestrian bridge over Columbus Boulevard to Penn's Landing, reconstructing the viaduct connection between Chestnut and Market Streets at Penn's Landing, constructing a section of the Delaware River Trail along Christopher Columbus Boulevard, and inspecting and repairing underwater concrete piles in the Penn's Landing area.
Interesting Facts
A key feature of the CAP Bridge Replacement is the construction of a large structural “cap” over I-95 and Columbus Boulevard, supporting an 11.5-acre park while maintaining full interstate operations below, requiring complex staged construction and bridge design over one of the region’s busiest corridors.