Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Route 141 bridge won't be open until next year

Delaware Public Media

The Delaware Department of Transportation announced further delays for its Route 141 bridge project.

DelDOT has been working to rehabilitate and raise the bridge near New Castle since October. The original completion date set before Thanksgiving was rolled back when construction crews found an asbestos pipe in the bridge. Now there’s another delay for technical issues which will push the project into next year.

DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod says construction on the 62-year-old structure has posed some unforeseen issues.

“Rehabbing bridges: it’s a lot like remodeling an old home. Until you get into the project, you may not know that there is a faulty wire or a leaky pipe that you hadn’t anticipated, and you’ve got to course-correct and make sure you fix those issues before you can move on with the project you had originally planned,” said McLeod.

McLeod adds DelDOT is in a dispute with the project’s design consultant over the latest technical issues. He says the delays will add to the project’s initial cost of more than $15.5 million, forcing the transportation agency to dip into its project overrun fund.

“We won’t be able to say what that cost is until the project is completed,” said McLeod.
 

Related Content