Maintenance work on the Bells Mill Road bridge in Wissahickon Valley Park, including concrete and stone repairs to the bridge structure, was to begin on Monday, March 16, and continue for one to two weeks, weather depending, the Streets Department announced on Friday.

Two-way traffic will be maintained except for temporary single-lane closures as needed during work hours between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. During these partial closures, a flagger will direct traffic in one direction at a time, the city said in a news release.

This work is separate from a larger rehabilitation project anticipated to start construction in spring 2027 and be completed in fall of that year. It will rehabilitate the bridge on Bells Mill Road and another on Valley Green Road over Wissahickon Creek. Both bridges are considered contributing elements to the Chestnut Hill and Fairmount Park Historic Districts.

The Bells Mill Road bridge is 206 years old, built in 1820. It is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Valley Green Road bridge is 194 years old, built in 1832 and renovated in 1915, linking Fairmount Park and Chestnut Hill.

The bridge work planned for next year will be more extensive, including removing the pavement and earth fill, placing lightweight concrete fill material, and installing a reinforced concrete deck (Bells Mill) or asphalt roadway (Valley Green).

Workers also will remove deteriorated portions and reconstruct some elements. The Bells Mill bridge will get new stone-faced concrete parapets. Voids under the foundations will be filled. Wetland mitigation will be developed by the creation of wetlands along Wises Mill Road, between Bells Mill Road and Valley Green Road bridges. Traffic will be detoured for both bridges during the work.