After a bridge replacement project, Route 13 will reopen earlier than scheduled at Blackbird Creek between Smyrna and Townsend.First, one lane of Route 13 north will reopen Oct. 21, said C.R. McLeod, director of communications for the Delaware Department of Transportation on DelDOT’s Facebook page Oct. 20.One lane of Route 13 south is scheduled to reopen soon, possibly later on Oct. 21, McLeod said.As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, one late of Route 13 north was open to traffic, but Route 13 south was still closed.Tr...
After a bridge replacement project, Route 13 will reopen earlier than scheduled at Blackbird Creek between Smyrna and Townsend.
First, one lane of Route 13 north will reopen Oct. 21, said C.R. McLeod, director of communications for the Delaware Department of Transportation on DelDOT’s Facebook page Oct. 20.
One lane of Route 13 south is scheduled to reopen soon, possibly later on Oct. 21, McLeod said.
As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, one late of Route 13 north was open to traffic, but Route 13 south was still closed.
Traffic has been detoured around the closure since Sept. 8 on Route 13 north and since Sept. 15 on Route 13 south.
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Both lanes are opening ahead of schedule.
“We anticipated a 45-day full closure for each direction, and we are going to meet that thanks to the tremendous work of the contractor and all the subcontractors and all the workers who have been out here every day since early September getting this project done,” McLeod said.
The cost of the bridge replacement project was about $15.4 million. McLeod said there is an early completion incentive for the contractor and he will be able to confirm that amount at a later date.
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The replacements were needed due to the age and deterioration of the structures, McLeod said.
Built in 1920, the Route 13 south bridge was ranked as the bridge most in need of repair or replacement in the state, he said.
The northbound bridge was built in 1933.
Both structures were replaced at the same time to save money and to allow for the raising of the roadway in both directions by 9 feet to address visibility issues and improve safety, McLeod said.
For example on Route 13 south near Blackbird Forest Road, the road descends toward the creek and then rises near the intersection of Blackbird Forest Road. Before the road was raised, some drivers turning from Blackbird Forest Road onto Route 13 had difficulty seeing traffic on Route 13 south climbing the hill until vehicles were close to Blackbird Forest Road.
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate and development news. Reach him at [email protected].