Capping 676 (Philadelphia, Chester: real estate, condos, construction)

[123noname321]

why isn't 676 capped it could be a park or I was thinking maybe residential around logan square similar to how it is at Rittenhouse. It could make the Parkway more accessible especially with condos there. And it seems like a natural block for anything to happen north like between 17th and 10th and maybe if it is done the viaduct high line park could be completed. I'm not totally in favor of the whole thing being a park but actually a trail could be nice that connects the Schuylkill trail to the Delaware (Isn't there some running trail there, just moved here and haven't been there yet) Anyways why not cap it and it is different than the big dig in boston since 676 is already underground.

[s1oozne]

Because the state and feds control the highway, and they want to do what they want to do.

Funny how that works, isn't it? They have no problem taking the dollars from mass transit revenues to build and maintain their highways and yet they have the nerve to act like they're the ones putting money into Philadelphia and not the other way around.

The situation for I-95 in Chester city is the exact same thing and yet they'll probably never cap that either.

[MikeNigh]

I agree, it's prime real estate. How tall of a structure could a cap handle?

[123noname321]

I don't think you could put a large skyscraper on it maybe 10-15 stories at the most. just a guess maybe someone who actually knows what the possible height would be nice

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by 123noname321

I don't think you could put a large skyscraper on it maybe 10-15 stories at the most. just a guess maybe someone who actually knows what the possible height would be nice

No one knows, until the hypothetical thing is designed and engineered.

[1timbo1]

To me, 676 is one of those cut-through-the-middle-of-downtown highways that was done right. I rarely even notice 676's presence when I'm walking or riding my bike through that area. Yes, the green space could be made into something more cohesive and park-like, but it's okay for now. The parkway is more annoying, honestly, and that even has "park" in the name. If you want to set your sights on improving a highway's destruction, look to I-95.

[bryson662001]

It’s not going to happen, totally unnecessary and way too expensive

[rotodome]

And no one's going to be happy about that road being closed for 4 years of construction. the city has way bigger fish to fry.

[strawberryanise]

Originally Posted by rotodome

And no one's going to be happy about that road being closed for 4 years of construction. the city has way bigger fish to fry.

Not only that, but it took years and a lot of hassle to construct that highway in the first place. I-95 and I-76 probably would need work done on them first.

If there were enough discretionary funding available though, this might get an

[s1oozne]

Originally Posted by 1timbo1

To me, 676 is one of those cut-through-the-middle-of-downtown highways that was done right. I rarely even notice 676's presence when I'm walking or riding my bike through that area. Yes, the green space could be made into something more cohesive and park-like, but it's okay for now. The parkway is more annoying, honestly, and that even has "park" in the name. If you want to set your sights on improving a highway's destruction, look to I-95.

Personally I'd take a look at the Schuylkill Expressway in South Philly. Unlike I-95 which basically cuts through the most southern part of far South Philly and then the most eastern part of South Philly, the Schuylkill Expressway cuts haphazardly through large parts of South Philly west of Broad St and even South Philly east of Broad St. The worst though is the way it completely cuts off West Philly from the Upper Schuylkill. I swear, if you drive along 76, you wouldn't even know that there's a whole other half of the city through the trees behind the expressway. It's like you're in the middle of nowhere, just like it is in parts on other highways through urban areas.

Capping 676 is a no-brainer though.