While Philadelphia has seen many projects that were eventually never built, one of the most unique is the Skylink Aerial Tramway proposed to span across the Delaware River, featuring gondolas running on suspended cables. Developed by the Delaware River Port Authority, thus uncommon form of transportation was supposed to connect Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront to Camden, NJ on the east bank of the Delaware River. The trams were planned to move at 160 feet above the river, with both of the towers standing at a total height of 250 feet. The development was projected to complete construction in Spring 2002, but due to the continuous rising budget along with various other issues, including mounting criticism, the project was eventually canceled.
Skylink Aerial Tramway tower. Image via Delaware River Port Authority
The idea of the proposal was sparked by the construction boom in the 1980s, and eventually details about the project were released to the public in late 1997. The Delaware River Port Authority moved confidently with the proposal, which would had also included an entertainment center planned on the Camden side. On the Philadelphia side, passengers would be let off at Penn’s Landing by the bus stop on Penn’s Landing Road. The towers of the project would have a reinforced concrete structure, with round columns rising above the pedestal to a curving web up at the top.
Skylink Aerial Tramway site April 2020. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The project was given the green light, and on December 6, 2000, construction had started. But even after the foundations were underway to support the structures above, strong opposition from the Camden side contributed to the east tower being stalled, and it currently still stands just ten feet above the Delaware River. On the west side, the pedestals was completed by 2002, but the project was abandoned by 2004, with fewer and fewer updates being released. The west side pedestal was demolished in the summer of 2020.
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Original idea had flaws, but today, as an aerial team, would put philadelphia and Camden on a world stage. Needs to be reimagined for tomorrow. Integrate with new pens landing park.