George C. Platt Bridge (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

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The George C. Platt Bridge (locally referred to as simply the "Platt Bridge") is a through truss bridge in South Philadelphia. Spanning the Schuylkill River near the Sun Oil refinery, the bridge carries PA Route 291 (Penrose Avenue in this area) and was opened to traffic in 1951 to replace ferry service across the river. No tolls are required to cross the bridge in either direction.

It was originally named the "Penrose Avenue Bridge" but renamed in 1971 to honor Civil War hero George Crawford Platt. Bronze bas-relief sculptures of Platt's face were placed at either end of the span in 1986, but both were ultimately stolen by 1990. As of 2008, neither sculpture has been recovered.

Motorists utilize the bridge to access westbound I-76 (at the point where the interstate becomes the "Schuylkill Expressway") from both northbound and southbound lanes of I-95. Drivers on eastbound I-76 use the bridge to access southbound I-95 towards Philadelphia International Airport and points south. It also serves as an alternate means into the general vicinity of the south Philadelphia sports complex.

Permanent traffic and weather television cameras are mounted atop the Philadelphia International Airport Hilton at the bridge's westernmost base, operated by Westwood One MetroNetworks and WPVI-TV 6, respectively. These cameras may clearly see the bridge's eastern half.

PA 291/Penrose Avenue intersects with 26th Street (providing access to westbound I-76 and south Philadelphia) on the bridge's easternmost side and with Island Avenue (providing access to Philadelphia International Airport and southwest Philadelphia) on the bridge's westernmost side. Additionally, an exit ramp feeding directly onto the southbound lanes of I-95 is found on the westbound side of the bridge.

www.PlattBridge.com