SEPTA Suspends Chestnut Hill East Line For Three-Month Bridge Repairs

SEPTA will suspend service on the Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail Line from June 15 to September 2 to rehabilitate five century-old bridges along the route, including those at Wayne Avenue, Logan Street, Chew Avenue, Mt. Pleasant Avenue, and Cresheim Valley Drive. The $23 to $36 million project aims to proactively repair these poorly rated but not unsafe bridges, addressing structural steel, masonry, and other infrastructure needs while also making ADA improvements at Chestnut Hill East Station. During the shutdown, SEPTA will increase service on the Chestnut Hill West Line by adding three additional inbound and outbound trains on weekdays, with trains running every 30 minutes during peak hours and hourly off-peak and weekends; riders can also use Route 23 bus service. Nearby residents may experience minor noise and air quality disruptions, and several bus routes will be detoured. The project is one of SEPTA's most significant summer infrastructure efforts and is timed to minimize impact by coinciding with the school summer break. However, this rehabilitation occurs amid SEPTA's funding challenges, which threaten future reductions in service or permanent closures on other lines if a substantial cash shortfall is not resolved.