Wilmington, Delaware — Drivers have been warned to expect traffic delays as a major construction project to completely rebuild the driving surface of the Delaware Memorial Bridge begins next month.
The News Journal reports that the project will remove the top two inches of the deck on the north-facing (New Jersey) side of the bridge and replace it with “ultra-high-performance concrete,” according to the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
In the first phase of the project, two lanes on the Delaware side of the bridge will be closed to traffic, and the third lane will be closed overnight. The remaining two lanes of his will be open to traffic and a bypass lane will divert traffic under construction. Bypass lanes will be dedicated to traffic bound for the New Jersey Turnpike.
The second phase of the project, scheduled to run from February 1 to May 25, 2023, will close the left two lanes along the length of the bridge.
The third phase, scheduled from September 5 to November 21, 2023, will close the right two lanes on the New Jersey side of the bridge.
Drivers heading south on the bridge to Delaware won’t see much of a change in traffic, given that nearly all of the construction is on the New Jersey side. However, DRBA says drivers should “expect traffic jams and delays en route to New Jersey.”
The project, which also includes replacing relief joints and expansion joints, is expected to cost $71 million.
Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.