Sprucing up road to Del. River will cost $1 million

One of the main corridors connecting Old City to the Delaware River will get a $1 million makeover, city officials announced Thursday.

The Delaware River Waterfront Corp. will begin work on the Race Street Connector, which stretches from Second Street to Delaware Avenue and passes under Interstate 95. The improvements will include a dedicated bike lane, widened sidewalks and two light screens along the wall of I-95.

Officials hope the changes will increase pedestrian and bike traffic on what has been a desolate stretch of land.

The connector is expected to be finished some time this summer not long after the Race Street Pier opens, officials said. A $5 million grant from the William Penn Foundation will pay for the connector and the creation of more green space and an extension of the Delaware River Trail. A $1.3 million grant from PennDOT will also be used.