Del. 1 drivers: Less than 3 weeks until St. Georges Bridge reopens
Jerry SmithMotorists who take the St. Georges Bridge during their daily commute have been anxious to know just when the bridge will reopen.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, work on the bridge that offers secondary, non-toll access over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is still on schedule to be finished at the end of January.
The Army Corps has been replacing 45 floor beams that run below the decking of the 77-year-old bridge since September.
St. Georges Bridge closes on Monday and with it a major Delaware north-south artery
During the monthslong $3.7 million project, crews have also been replacing joint strip seals across the entire 4,209-foot (0.8 miles) span that allows the deck plates to move without creating gaps.
The closure has caused headaches for commuters who find U.S. 13 more convenient than Del. 1 or who take the old bridge to avoid tolls. About 4,000 southbound vehicles used St. Georges Bridge during the week before it closed, and about 6,000 travel north, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
Delaware history: Ship smashes into St. Georges bridge in 1939, killing 2
In comparison, about 49,000 vehicles cross the Roth Bridge going south each weekday, and 47,000 head north.
DelDOT estimates that the bridge closing has put another 1,000 vehicles an hour going north over the Roth Bridge during the morning commute, and about 700 vehicles an hour traveling south during the evening drive.
While minor projects are being completed in New Castle County that might cause delays, the brunt of the work is happening next week is below the canal in Kent and Sussex counties.
• Weekend closure of Del. 1 southbound at Bowers Beach Road in Kent County: From 7 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 20) under the new bridge near Little Heaven.
In the event of inclement weather, the work will be pushed back to Jan. 25.
Detour routes:
Traffic from Del.1 southbound will continue straight past Bowers Beach Road and take Exit 86/North Frederica, turn left onto the overpass onto Del.1 northbound and merge onto Del. 1 northbound, then turn right to Bowers Beach Road.
Traffic from Bowers Beach Road will take a right at the signal onto Del. 1 and be directed to utilize the next intersection and make a U-turn and merge onto Del. 1 southbound.
• Harmons Hill Road in Millsboro to close during the week: From 7 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Friday between Hollyville Road and Townsend Road, near Millsboro.
Detour signage will be posted for motorists.
• A portion of Beaver Dam Road to remain closed in Lewes: Until 5 p.m. Feb. 22.
The closing of the bridge over Bundicks Branch between Fisher Road and Kendale Road, southwest of Lewes in Sussex County, will require detours.
Detour routes:
-From north to south: Take Fisher Road to Hopkins Road to Beaver Dam Road.
-From south to north: Take Beaver Dam Road to Hopkins Road to Fisher Road and return to Beaver Dam Road.
Detour signage and message boards will be posted for motorists.
• Closure of May Twilley Road in Delmar: From 7 a.m. Monday until 5 p.m. Jan. 21on the road between the Maryland/Delaware state line and Columbia Road in Sussex County.
Detour signage will be posted for motorists.
For up-to-date traffic information on all roadway projects, visit the DelDOT website or tune to WTMC 1380 AM.
Reach Jerry Smith at jsmith17@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JerrySmithTNJ.
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