News Release Release No: NR-020815 Contact: Rich Chlan Phone: (215) 656-6515

-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --

St Georges Bridge painting operations completed; normal four-lane traffic patterns in effect

Philadelphia (August 15, 2002): The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that all remaining equipment and signs have been removed from the St. Georges Bridge signaling the end of the painting operations that began over a year ago.  Normal four-lane traffic patterns had resumed on Friday, August 9.

Painting operations began in late March 2001 under a $10 million contract awarded to Aulson Company, Inc.  Workers removed all lead-based paint from the north and south approach girder spans, main span steel members and appurtenances, and repainted the same.  This phase of the operation was completed in June 2002.  During the past two months, workers completed repairs to the bridge’s guardrails and fencing and replaced deteriorated rivets and bolts.

Approximately 20,000 gallons of paint were used to repaint the bridge, which was built in 1942, and is the oldest of the Corps’ four highway bridges across the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.