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Some Center City streets closing Sunday for helicopter equipment lift

The intermittent closures will affect both motor vehicles and pedestrians.

An "N" from the iconic "PNB" letter atop One South Broad Street dangles from a helicopter over 15th Street next to City Hall during a lift operation in 2014.
An "N" from the iconic "PNB" letter atop One South Broad Street dangles from a helicopter over 15th Street next to City Hall during a lift operation in 2014.Read moreLaura McCrystal, Inquirer staff ‏

Some streets west of City Hall will be subject to closures for most of Sunday so a helicopter can deliver heavy equipment to a Center City building.

The intermittent closures, which will affect vehicles and pedestrians, are expected to occur between 4 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Streets Department said.

SEPTA will be affected by the operation, and the agency has issued an advisory for riders in Center City.

The airlift is part of a project to replace HVAC equipment at 2000 Market St., Crystal Jacobs, a Streets Department spokesperson, said.

“Due to the height of these buildings, a helicopter is needed to set these units,” the department said in a statement.

“The lift has been scheduled for a Sunday to minimize disruption to residents and businesses,” the statement said. “Police assistance will be on hand to ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and work crews for the duration of all closures. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained.”

The affected streets are:

  1. John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Juniper and 16th Streets.

  2. 15th Street between Arch Street and South Penn Square.

  3. 16th Street between JFK and Chestnut Street.

  4. Juniper between Market and Filbert Streets.

  5. Broad Street between Arch and JFK.

  6. South Penn Square between 15th and Broad.

  7. 17th Street between JFK and Ludlow Street.

  8. 18th Street between JFK and Chestnut.

  9. 19th Street between JFK and Ludlow.

  10. 20th Street between Commerce Street and Chestnut.

  11. Ludlow between 17th and 21st.

  12. Market between 15th and 21st.

SEPTA said the airlift would affect subway, trolley, Regional Rail, and bus operations:

  1. Broad Street and Market‐Frankford Lines: Regularly scheduled service will operate; however, the restrictions will close most street‐level entrances and exits for City Hall and 15th Street stations. Customers can use the City Hall Courtyard head houses. The Center City Concourse will remain open, and customers will be able to use the free interchange between the subway and trolley routes.

  2. Trolleys: Routes 10, 11, 12, 34, and 36 will bypass 19th Street in both directions, and most street‐level entrances and exits for 15th will be closed. Customers can access the Center City Concourse at 13th Street and Market, or use the City Hall Courtyard head houses.

  3. Regional Rail:  Street‐level access to Suburban Station will be available only on JFK at 16th, 17th, and 18th. Elevator access will be available at the 16th and JFK entrance. There will be no impact to Jefferson Station entrances and exits, and Regional Rail service will follow normal schedules.

  4. Bus: Detours and delays are expected on bus routes through Center City. Detours are planned on Routes 2, 4, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124, and 125. 

SEPTA will provide real‐time service updates on Sunday on its website, septa.org, and on Twitter at @SEPTA.