With the contractor on board, DRWC and the City will work with them to develop a detailed construction schedule, traffic management plan, and communication strategy. Before work begins, DRWC will keep the public informed and answer any construction-related questions. Stay tuned for updates and a public meeting date.
This project is a joint effort between DRWC and the City of Philadelphia Streets Department. The City bid on the project in Spring 2024 and has recently awarded a contract with the selected contractor, Heidelberg Materials (which recently acquired DePaul Construction). Concurrently, DRWC has hired Urban Engineers to handle the construction management and inspection services. Now that these two firms are in place, construction will start in Spring 2025. DRWC anticipates a 12–18-month construction period, but this can change after the contractor is on board and a more detailed schedule is developed.
DRWC will be engaging with affected communities in the coming months to address construction questions, and we will create a plan for ongoing community construction updates. Continue to check this page for the latest news.
Phase 1 upgrades will include:
The upgrades to Washington Avenue prioritize bicycle and pedestrian safety along and across Washington Avenue. At four (4) locations, concrete pedestrian islands will be installed in the center median. The plans shorten the crossing widths along and across the corridor wherever possible.
The following table summarizes these shortened distances:
Bicycle enhancements: These are designed to integrate with the newly completed Delaware River Trail along Columbus Boulevard and the City’s plans for a redesigned Washington Avenue from 26th Street to 4th Street. DRWC’s project will include a westbound parking-protected bike and a curb-separated, multi-use path on the south side of the Avenue.
Vehicle enhancements: DRWC will mill, resurface, and restripe Washington Avenue from 4th Street to Columbus Boulevard according to City-approved and PennDOT-approved designs. New traffic signals will also be installed as a part of the project to enable better signal timing across the corridor.
Additional landscape investments, trees, raised planters, benches, and tables are planned for the public spaces at either end of the corridor. As more funding becomes available, DRWC intends to add additional trees and amenities along the stretch.
For questions about the Washington Avenue Connector project, email WAC@drwc.org.
This project was financed in part by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
