Philly's Ben Franklin Parkway gets $19M facelift

PHILADELPHIA - One of Philadelphia's best known avenues is getting a $19 million makeover.

City and state officials say work is starting immediately on improvements along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to make it more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.

The boulevard connects City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

There will be new bike lanes and one fewer car lane, plus many new trees and landscaping. There's also going to be a new pavilion with a cafe. The Rodin Museum on the parkway is also getting spruced up.

The work is expected to take several years to complete.