Girard Avenue Bridge, Railway bridge in Fairmount Park, Pennsylvania
Girard Avenue Bridge is a rail and vehicular crossing that spans the Schuylkill River connecting the east and west sections of Fairmount Park. The structure accommodates both automobile and trolley traffic across multiple lanes while featuring ornamental iron railings along its length.
The original bridge was built between 1852 and 1855 using a three-span timber arch and Howe truss design. The current structure erected between 1969 and 1972 preserved the ornate iron railings from the earlier design while upgrading the structural capacity for modern traffic demands.
The bridge links the Philadelphia Zoo and other historic landmarks in the park, shaping how people move between different sections of this large green space. It serves as a visual anchor that locals and visitors naturally use when navigating between the east and west sides.
You can reach the bridge from several park entrances with parking available near the zoo exit off the Schuylkill Expressway. Early morning or evening hours offer lighter traffic and fewer visitors to the surrounding park area.
The bridge still carries trolley traffic, a rare feature for a major river crossing in a modern city. This dual operation supporting both cars and trolleys makes it a working example of a transit method that has largely disappeared elsewhere.
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