The former Navy brig down at the Navy Yard could house 200 prisoners but there would be an economic impact of transporting food and services. Holmesburg, on the other hand, would save the city time and money, Giorla said.

"It's the fastest way to address our needs," he added.

With Holmesburg, the city wouldn't have to spend time and money acquiring the property. The prisons department also would be able to tap into nearby food and services.

Giorla did agree that if the plan went forward, prisoners would be discharged from the State Road complex, so they wouldn't have to walk through the Holmesburg neighborhood to catch a bus.

Giorla's answers didn't make the civic members any more accepting of the plan. They don't want it.

"We've got to speak in one voice," a resident said.

Pat Wolstenholme, the civic group's vice president, told the woman that if the city wants to do it, nothing can be done about it.

"The city does what the city wants to do," she said.

In a related matter, a woman asked Giorla why a man who said he was supposed to be in Holmesburg Prison wound up on her front porch.

According to Giorla, an investigation of the matter found that the man had not escaped but was a weekend inmate. He was on his way to report to the prison when he passed out on the woman's porch.

When the civic group meets again in September, the prisons department will return with a PowerPoint presentation on the plan. Civic president Fred Moore will invite City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (D-6th dist.) to attend the meeting.

Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com

PennDOT plans for replacement of Cottman Ave. bridge

By Tom Waring

Times Staff Writer

PennDOT last week announced a $2.5 million project that will replace an aging bridge along Cottman Avenue.

Mike Holva, an engineer for the state transportation department, said the existing bridge was built in 1905. It is above the CSX railroad tracks and generally runs from Oakley Street to Rockwell Avenue.

As explained at least week's monthly meeting of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association, 33,000 vehicles travel over the bridge every day. After it is replaced, the bridge will last for another 100 years.

The road allows for four lanes of traffic, two each heading east and west. The width of the road will be expanded from 40 feet to 46 feet, with the two sidewalks decreased in width from 13 feet, 6 inches to 10 feet, 6 inches.