by KYW's Karin Phillips

Because of public safety considerations, North Broad Street just a couple of blocks north of City Hall will be completely closed to vehicular traffic, beginning Friday morning, thanks to construction on the Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion.

Beginning Friday morning at 5am, Broad Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic -- northbound between JFK Boulevard and Race Street, and southbound between Race Street and Arch Street -- for eight days. 

Joseph Resta is the project director for the Convention Center expansion. He says the street closing is necessary for public safety because of demolition at the southeast corner of Broad and Cherry Streets:

"It's kind of an extraordinary circumstance.  And the measures taken for public safety reasons are also extraordinary."

The area is supposed to reopen on Saturday, May 31st, at 4pm.  Resta says police will be on the scene to direct motorists around the area, and Septa buses and the Broad Street "Night Owl" bus will be using alternate routes (see below). 

See a detailed map of the street closures and detours (Acrobat required)

SEPTA issued the following statement on Friday afternoon:

"Northbound Route C detour routing will follow Broad Street, JFK Blvd., 16th Street, and Vine Street, before returning to Broad Street and normal routing, making stops at 15th Street & JFK Blvd., 16th & Arch Streets, 16th & Vine, and Broad & Vine Streets. Southbound buses will travel Broad Street to Vine Street, 15th Street, and then return to regular routing, making stops on 15th Street at Race, Arch, and Market Streets.

 "Broad Street Owl service will follow the same detour, making stops at City Hall and a far-side stop at Broad & Vine Streets.

"Southbound bus Route 27 will be detoured via the Vine St. Expressway (I-676) east, exiting at 15th Street to Market Street before returning to normal routing, and will also make stops on 15th Street at Race, Arch, and Market Streets.

"For additional service information contact SEPTA customer service at 215-580-7800, or visit www.septa.org."