OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MANAYUNK BRIDGE

Manayunk Bridge Opens After 30 Years; Creates New Link from Lower Merion Township to Main Street Manayunk and the City of Philadelphia via the Circuit Trails

WHAT: On Friday, dignitaries will gather along with members of the community to celebrate the opening of the new trail over the historic Manayunk Bridge which connects the Cynwyd Heritage Trail with the Schuylkill River Trail. Following the ribbon cutting, this new 0.6 mile trail will open to pedestrians and cyclists for the first time, allowing them enjoy the beauty of the region from a new vantage point.

The Manayunk Bridge Trail, now part of the Circuit Trails, restores a vital connection between Lower Merion and the City of Philadelphia that has been closed for nearly 30 years. This trail, built on a reclaimed railroad asset, is the first pedestrian and cyclist-only bridge over the Schuylkill River and the extension will bring new life to the riverfront.  Additionally, this new bridge trail creates an important connection point in the Circuit Trails, Greater Philadelphia’s multi-use network of hundreds of miles of trails.

WHO: Michael Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia

Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor, Environmental & Community Resources, City of Philadelphia

Elizabeth S. Rogan, President, Board of Commissioners, Lower Merion Township

Chaka Fattah, Congressman, Pennsylvania’s 2^nd Congressional District

Josh Shapiro, Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Montgomery County

Pamela DeLissio, State Representative, 194^th Legislative District

Vincent Hughes, State Senator, 7^th Senatorial District

Daylin Leach, State Senator, 17^th Senatorial District

Curtis Jones, Councilman, 4^th District, City of Philadelphia

Leo Bagley, Special Assistant to Secretary Leslie Richards, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Jeffrey Knueppel, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

Barry Seymour, Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30 at 11:00 a.m.

*Note: There ceremony will take place on the county line in the center of the bridge. Please arrive early to reach the location prior to the start of the event.

WHERE: Middle of the Manayunk Bridge

Parking: Church Parking Lot at Baker and DuPont

PHOTO OP:  – Dignitaries cutting the ribbon to Philadelphia’s newest major trail project

• Fantastic views of the Schuylkill River Valley from the iconic Manayunk Bridge
• Bikers, walkers and runners experiencing the new bridge trail for the first time

About the Circuit Trails:

Greater Philadelphia is the proud home of the Circuit, a vast regional trail network, composed of hundreds of miles of interconnected trails, that is growing in size each year. One of America’s largest trail networks, the Circuit is composed of 300 miles of completed trails with a vision of completing 750 miles of trails across the nine-county region in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A collaboration of nearly 65 nonprofit organizations, foundations and agencies is working to advance the completion of the Circuit Trails.  A premiere regional amenity, the Circuit Trails connect people to jobs, communities, parks and waterways.  Learn more at ConnecttheCircuit.org and connect with the Circuit Trails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out what is happening #onthecircuit.