The U.S. Army Corps Engineers has revised its upcoming Reedy Point Bridge repair schedule so that the bridge will remain open on all but four weekends over the estimated construction period. Weekday closures will still be in effect, but most weekends the bridge will have at least one lane open with automated traffic control.
Originally the bridge was to be closed throughout construction, but the project contractor (Corcon Construction of Lowellville, Ohio) has worked closely with the Corps to accommodate local concerns as much as possible.
The bridge will need to remain fully closed for two 3-week periods -- one this summer, one this fall -- each including two consecutive weekends. While exact dates have not yet been set, the Corps plans to avoid conflicts with major tourism-related events such as Delaware City Day and NASCAR race days at Dover Downs.
Under the $8 million contract, Corcon will be carrying out steel repairs to welds, other deteriorated steel members and the wind linkage (metal connecting the approach span to the main span of the bridge), as well as removal of lead paint and application of new corrosion protection. Work is expected to be complete by the end of 2012.
When the bridge is closed, traffic from the north will be directed to DE Route 1 southbound to US Route 13 southbound via Exit 148. Once on US Route 13 southbound, traffic will be directed to turn left at Pole Bridge Road which becomes Port Penn Road. The detour ends on Port Penn Road at the intersection with Liberty Street (DE Route 9).
Traffic from the south will be directed to US Route 13 via Port Penn Road. Traffic will turn right onto northbound US Route 13 from Port Penn Road, turn left at the next traffic signal to enter onto northbound DE Route 1. Once on northbound DE Route 1, traffic will exit at DE Route 72 (Exit 152). Traffic will turn right at the top of the ramp and proceed straight through the next signalized intersection (US Route 13). The detour ends on DE Route 72 at the intersection with River Road (DE Route 9).
Local traffic within Delaware City will be detoured out of the town via Cox Neck Road. Traffic will turn right onto northbound US Route 13 and then turn left onto DE Route 72 and then turn left to enter DE Route 1 southbound. Traffic will follow the detour for southbound traffic from this point.
All businesses within Delaware City will be open during the project and signs along the detour route will note that all businesses are open. The Reedy Point Bridge, which crosses the east end of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal between Delaware City and Port Penn, Del., was last inspected in July 2010, at which point the needed repairs were identified. Construction on the Reedy Point Bridge was last done in 1999 when $888,000 was spent on miscellaneous steel repairs. In 1995, $2.5 million was spent on anchor and deck span repairs and painting. The bridge was originally constructed in 1969.
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