Fencing Goes Up Around Graffiti Bridge
Officials have fenced off the historic Lake Ontelaunee span after closing it to pedestrians over deteriorating conditions.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Current Conditions
Fencing has been installed around the Graffiti Bridge at Lake Ontelaunee, officially the West Shore Drive bridge, after it was closed to pedestrians because its deteriorating condition presents a safety hazard. The Reading Area Water Authority executive director advised City Council of the pending closure in August.
Why it matters
The 1927 span, once a popular spot for walkers, anglers and photographers, is now being removed, ending a long-running local attraction. Its planned removal reflects the costs of maintaining aging infrastructure in Reading.
The 403-foot concrete span, built in 1927 and closed to vehicles about 30 years ago, is slated for removal with costs above $1.2 million through 2038. Preliminary engineering is scheduled to begin next year, though the exact timeline for demolition has not been set.
The players
PennDOT
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation owns the West Shore Drive bridge and has listed its removal as Project ID 10826 in the regional transportation plan.
Reading Area Water Authority
The authority oversees the reservoir area around Lake Ontelaunee and advised City Council of the pending closure of the bridge.
The details
Fencing was installed around the bridge after it was closed to pedestrians because of its deteriorating condition. A state historic bridge inventory found the three-arch concrete span historically significant, while PennDOT owns the structure.
Timeline
About 30 years ago: the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.
1927: the city water bureau built the West Shore Drive bridge.
August 2026: the Reading Area Water Authority executive director advised City Council of the pending closure.
November 5, 2026: fencing installation was reported.
2027 through 2038: the planned removal, with costs projected through 2038, is listed in the 2027-30 Transportation Improvement Program.
Seasonal Patterns
The removal of the Graffiti Bridge is scheduled within the Reading Area Transportation Study's 2027-30 Transportation Improvement Program as PennDOT Project ID 10826, following decades of vehicular closure. The timeline places the demolition of a 1927 span among the region's broader program of aging-infrastructure replacements.
Residents and visitors should avoid the closed Graffiti Bridge and stay behind the installed fencing, as the structure's deteriorating condition presents a safety hazard. Pedestrians are advised to use alternate routes around Lake Ontelaunee while the bridge awaits removal.
The takeaway
The closure and planned removal of the Graffiti Bridge show how aging local infrastructure can shift from a popular public attraction to a safety liability that municipalities must plan to retire.
What happens next
Preliminary engineering for the bridge removal is scheduled to begin next year, with removal costs projected through 2038.
Further reading
For the latest local conditions, see Current Conditions for Reading.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reading Eagle.
