Bridge repairs on Paper Mill Road in Newark will continue through the end of June, according to DelDOT.
The bridge consists of one 121″ x 77″ aluminum pipe arch. There were significant perforations along the pipe and a large erosion hole. Due to the structure’s diminishing structural integrity, the existing pipe was deemed structurally deficient by the Pontis Bridge Management System and ranked 4th in DelDOT’s 2017 Bridge Deficiency Ranking. Therefore, the project has been initiated to replace the bridge.
Construction is currently underway. A full road closure with detour was implemented on April 9, 2020, as planned. Originally the intent was for this to be a 10-day closure and further work was to be performed with shoulder closures, lane shifts, and intermittent lane closures. However, given the reduced traffic volumes resulting from COVID-19 restrictions, the Department has decided to expedite completion of this project by extending the time frame of the full closure. Currently, the project and road closure are expected to be complete by the end of June 2020.
