PATCO preps for final stage of $103 million Ben Franklin Bridge rehab project

On Saturday, the Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) will begin the next and final stage of its $103 million track rehabilitation project on the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The work in this phase involves finishing electronic signal and communications systems on the north side of the bridge, PATCO officials said in a press release.

"The repair and upgrade of the public assets entrusted to our stewardship as well as our unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of safety and service to our customers, are important priorities of [ours]," said PATCO General Manager John Rink, adding that the agency is making progress toward finishing the project by the end of the year.

Trains will run on a revised schedule to accommodate the track work through the end of October, at which point PATCO will temporarily suspend work on the project until early December. Crews will then resume the project until the end of 2015.

As part of the larger Ben Franklin Bridge rehab project, PATCO is replacing 33 miles of signal, power and communications cable; more than 8,800 bridge timber ties; and 6 miles of welded rails. The agency is also installing 1,300 feet of new rail in Camden Yard, according to the project's website.

PATCO began work on the bridge in mid-January 2014.