Editorial | A better bridge

Philadelphia has one last chance to get it right.

Last week, the South Street Bridge Coalition proposed a set of architectural changes to the City's current design for the new South Street Bridge. Officials are preparing to rebuild the decrepit, 85-year-old structure beginning this summer.

We've argued in the past that the City's plan for the new bridge doesn't meet the needs of the hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists who use the crossing daily. By designing an ugly highway extension, city officials have ignored the views of local residents and squandered a rare opportunity to build a 21st-century link between two vibrant communities.

Still, it's increasingly difficult to ignore the dilapidated condition of the crossing. Last year's fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis underscores the importance of rebuilding the structure as quickly as possible.

Officials can't delay the project much longer because safety - not design - is now the primary concern.

The latest proposal from the Coalition, however, addresses both.

It removes the more egregious design blunders - like the proposed lookout towers, which some say could be helpful to muggers - and adds features to make the bridge more pedestrian-friendly. More importantly, officials can implement most of the changes quickly without hugely upsetting the construction schedule. At this point, it's a fair compromise between officials and community residents.

This is Philly's next great bridge. Let's hope the City finally makes the right move.

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