The 700-foot span, which first opened in 1966, had been closed to vehicles since 2021 after inspections revealed structural deterioration. The bridge reopened at 7 a.m., and drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists quickly began using the newly renovated route.
"I'm not a civil engineer, but I know it's better than it was," said Bob Metty of Center City, who frequently passes the bridge during his daily training. "I think it looks beautiful. I've seen it under construction because I go by here every day when I do my training, but yeah, I think it's awesome."
The MLK Drive Bridge serves as a vital alternative to the often-congested I-76. Commuters hope the restored route will ease traffic flow along the Schuylkill Expressway.
"Yeah, I mean this clog right here with the expressway. It's a sin for a city of this magnitude," said Henry Nusbaum of Wynnewood. "This opening up, it's a pleasure to drive. It opens the whole city - lot of different ways to go in and out."
Residents from neighborhoods like West Philadelphia and Manayunk now have improved access to Center City, a change some say fosters a stronger sense of community
"West Philly sometimes feels like a different area comparatively to the rest of the city and vice versa," said Kyle Cuneo of South Philadelphia. "So like I think it's better to have like, you know, everyone feels like a nice cohesive kind of sense of community."
The reconstruction widened the bridge to three lanes and added a 10.5-foot shared pedestrian and bike path that connects to the MLK Drive Trail. Walkers, runners, and cyclists were the first to test the new span over the weekend, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Cherelle on Friday.
"Safer bike lanes and whatnot lead to more people utilizing them, which led to less people in cars," said Cuneo. "And I think that's what we all want, right?"
Temple University student Connor Rosencrans, who regularly drives the route, welcomed the reopening.
"I'm very excited because I drive that basically every week," Rosencrans said. "I know for hundreds if not thousands of Philadelphians it'll make their lives much better."
On the first day of fall, traffic on the bridge moved smoothly, and many residents were seen walking and biking along the newly opened span.