The Delaware DOT (DelDOT) recently shared that it has completed a variety of infrastructure projects across the state in the first half of 2020 totaling nearly $100 million in infrastructure investments.
"This has been an unusual year, but we continue to press forward on the largest infrastructure program in Delaware's history," Gov. John Carney said in a statement. "Investments in our public infrastructure create good jobs, make our roadways safer, reduce the time we all spend in traffic, and generally improve quality of life for all Delawareans. Thank you to DelDOT and workers across our state for continuing to make progress."
Delaware Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan said that while the pandemic has presented unexpected challenges for the state, DelDOT employees and contractors found ways to not only continue working but expedite work by taking advantage of the significant decline in statewide traffic volumes as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Projects completed to date this year in the state include:
- Milton Rails to Trails Project: This project included the installation of 1,600 ft of trail and the conversion of a railroad trestle to a pedestrian and cyclist bridge.
- Marl Pit Road Roundabout: This project reconfigured the previously existing four-way stop controlled intersection to a roundabout. Improvements included new asphalt roadways, curbs and gutters, shared-use paths, median islands, a drainage system, and street lighting.
- Main Street Newark: The entire roadway between Washington Street and the Trabant Parking garage was rebuilt, as well as constructing new bump-outs, drainage improvements; traffic and pedestrian signals were upgraded.
- Wilmington Transit Center: The new transit center, which opened in May, has the capacity to have up to 10 buses stage at one time allowing bus layovers without blocking city streets.
- Paper Mill Road Bridge Rehabilitation: Replaced a failing bridge culvert ranked fourth worst by DelDOT over the Middle Run Tributary with a new precast concrete box culvert.
- SR 1 Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Bridge Rehabilitation: This was a significant rehabilitation project that involved replacing the bridge's concrete decks, approach slabs, joints and bearings; correcting the vertical alignment; realigning the beams; repairing concrete chipping; strengthening concrete piers; sealing concrete abutments and piers; and stabilizing the canal banks.
- Dewey Beach/Forgotten Mile Route 1 Paving and Improvements: This project included repaving Route 1, from the canal bridge to just south of Dewey and pedestrian improvements at intersections.
- S.R. 1 Paving from Odessa to Smyrna: A 10-mile section of Route 1 between Middletown and Smyrna was paved in both directions to improve the road surface.
- Christina River Bridge and Approach Roads: This project built a new 470-ft multimodal bridge over the Christina River that includes two 12-ft travel lanes and a separated 14-ft wide bicycle and pedestrian path, and more than 1.5 miles of new and improved roads, sidewalks, and parking.
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SOURCE: Delaware DOT
