Irish and Scottish Memorials Relocated to nearby Foglietta Park
November 22, 2023 – Demolition of the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge over Interstate 95 at Penn’s Landing, the first phase of removing the concrete covering over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets, is underway this fall as crews relocate the Scottish and Irish (see below) memorials and begin dismantling the Rotunda at Walnut Plaza and the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge in late November.
Removal of the main section of the concrete covering is expected to start in early 2024 and continue through the winter months. Prior to demolition, workers are removing any reusable amenities from the Chestnut Street Park, which was closed in late October, including the Irish Memorial and the Scottish Memorial and a number of other fixtures at the memorial site.
The memorials were moved from the existing covered area to a temporary location at nearby Foglietta Plaza on Spruce Street near Front Street (see temporary location below) on November 20. Once the memorials are secured at their new temporary location, they will be accessible to visitors.
Following relocation of the memorials, crews will continue removing everything from atop the existing concrete cover.
After the Thanksgiving Day Holiday, demolition activities will begin at the Rotunda, located at the eastern terminus of the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge on the east side of Columbus Boulevard. Demolition will then move to the portion of the bridge that spans Columbus Boulevard before moving to the covering over I-95.
A number of lane and street closures will be in place during demolition, including weekend detours of I-95 for safe removal of the concrete covering.
Since work began this summer on PennDOT’s $328.9 million contract to replace and expand the existing covered section (I-95/CAP), much of the early-stage focus has been on the extensive relocation of utilities across the wide project area.
Structural steel is currently being fabricated for the South Street pedestrian bridge extension over Columbus Boulevard. The bridge steel will then be assembled at a vacated parking lot adjacent to northbound I-95 near Dock Street. At the project site, maintenance repairs to the existing pedestrian bridge and the removal of the overlook are set for early next year, followed by installation of the foundations for the support piers.
The existing pedestrian bridge will remain open during this work with only minor interruptions.
In addition to replacing the cap over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets, the I-95 Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) Project will improve pedestrian and multi-modal connections between Center City and the waterfront. The project has two main components: a new Park at Penn’s Landing, and a new signature bridge at South Street, both of which will also extend over Columbus Boulevard to connect cyclists and pedestrians to the newly completed Delaware River Trail.
The new Park will be an 11.5-acre civic space spanning I-95 and Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, extending from Front Street to the Delaware River. It will incorporate amenities including gardens, play areas, flexible open space, and a mass-timber Pavilion.
During construction, I-95 motorists will experience minor lane shifts on the mainline and adjacent ramps. Other travel restrictions also will take place on I-95 and adjacent surface streets — including Columbus Boulevard and Front Street, during various phases of construction.
Pedestrian access between Center City and the waterfront will also be maintained on Dock Street and Market Street during construction.
Additional project details, construction updates, project detours and other information will be available on this website and ParkatPennsLanding.com.
The project is financed with federal, local, and private funds.
