iradiophilly | News - Delaware River Turnpike Bridge to Reopen; Jury Selection in Frein Case; Coffins Found in Old City

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Delaware River Turnpike Bridge to Reopen; Jury Selection in Frein Case; Coffins Found in Old City

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 03/10/17 12:38 am | updated: 03/10/17 12:38 am

Officials from the PA Turnpike Commission and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority announced that the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge will reopen tonight sometime after 10:30 pm. The repair work that has kept the bridge closed since the end of January has been completed about a month earlier than expected. Officials credit the hard work of the engineers, contractors, scientists, and other workers involved. They also say that a little bit of good luck and the better than usual winter weather allowed everyone to work around the clock to complete the repairs well ahead of the initial April estimate. The bridge was closed after painting crews discovered a crack in one of the trusses on January 20th. 42,000 drivers use the bridge daily and have been forced to find a detour the past few weeks causing daily congestion and gridlock in Bucks and Burlington counties. Officials will continue to monitor the loads on the bridge.

UPDATE:The bridge is now open.

Jury selection began today in Chester County in the capital murder trial against an anti-government sharpshooter and survivalist accused of killing a Pennsylvania State Police trooper and critically wounding another. 33-year-old Eric Frein is charged with killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and injuring Trooper Alex Douglass outside the Blooming Grove barracks in Pike County in Northeast Pennsylvania on September 12, 2014. He then led authorities on a 48-day manhunt in the Pocono Mountains. More than 100 people received a jury summons for the trial. Initially, jurors have been asked if they have heard about the case in the media and if they would have a problem imposing the death penalty. After the initial phase, remaining potential jurors will be questioned individually. The final 12 jurors and 6 alternates will be sequestered in Milford, Pike County, during the trial which is expected to last seven weeks starting in April. They will be allowed to go home on weekends.

Construction crews in Old City unearthed dozens of coffins from a historic 18th century cemetery while digging up a parking lot. The crew was working at the future site of a 10-story apartment building on Arch Street between 2nd and 3rd. The site was once the burial grounds for the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia established in 1707. The remains were supposed to have been moved in 1859 to Mt. Moriah Cemetery. At the end of last year, they found a few bones. Now they are uncovering entire coffins. Anthropologists and archeologists are now helping to excavate the site, study the remains, and ultimately reinter them at Mt. Moriah where they were supposed to have gone.

Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles have released LB/DE Connor Barwin. The move frees up $7.75 million in salary-cap space. 30-year-old Barwin was with the Eagles for four years and made the Pro Bowl in 2014. He will be missed both on and off the field. Barwin has made outsized contributions to the community during his time in Philadelphia. His Make the World Better Foundation has raised millions of dollars to help reshape and rebuild parks and recreation centers in the city. Barwin also embraced the local and indie music scene and tapped into it to put on several benefit concerts for his foundation. He was also an avid SEPTA patron and bike rider, taking the transportation to games and practice. Barwin has thanked the fans and city and fellow SEPTA riders. He also said the MTWB projects would continue, the latest broke ground on Wednesday.

This was the first day of NFL free agency and the Eagles were very busy. They addressed their issues at wide receiver and signed Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. They also added OL Chance Warmack.

Weather
Tonight, Cloudy, Temperatures in the mid 50's this evening, Snow expected overnight, low 35 in Center City