Following a six-year renovation that took more than twice its planned timeline, Ardmore’s SEPTA station finally reopened on Monday, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Originally planned for two and a half years, the construction was extended because of supply-chain delays and infrastructure problems that were unpredictable, given the age of the station. Built in 1957, the building replaced the first, 1870s-era station.
“It’s unfortunate, you can’t really see these things until you start doing demolition and uncovering them,” said Len Nardone, SEPTA’s chief of capital programs. “There’s just a long history of railroad activity and things that happened at this station that weren’t necessarily documented well.”
With those delays now at an end, the station and nearby parking lot have reopened, offering riders new accessible platforms and waiting areas.
The news was met with relief by local business owners, after the project, initially manageable, extended into a years-long disruption.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ve lost business,” said Robyn Axner-Davis, owner of Ardmore Grooming Station.
Riders have also expressed relief at the reopening, as some previously had to depend on Uber or rides from friends because the temporary loading platforms were not accessible.
Read more about the long-awaited reopening of Ardmore’s SEPTA station in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
