A Sussex County non-profit dedicated to preserving railroad history seeks a permanent home for the Lewes railroad swing bridge.
The bridge is a historic Delaware landmark built in 1916 over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.
It still works, but failing supports make it unsafe for the bridge to stay where it is.
“The U.S. (Army) Corps of Engineers has really mandated that its got to come out of that waterway" said Gary Wray, secretary for the Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association. "And so by the end of the year, it’s going to be removed by DelDOT. And the question is - what’s going to happen to it? And that’s why our group and others are doing everything we can to find a new home for the bridge.”
Wray says the bridge is historically significant.
“It’s one of only two manually operated swing bridges in the country. And therefore it’s a valuable Delaware artifact that on its very merit needs to be saved,” said Wray.
He also notes the bridge is played a key role in Lewes' growth as an industrial area.
“For example the Otis Smith Menhaden Fish Factory was at one time the largest fish factory in the world. All the menhaden from that factory went over that bridge,” Wray said.
Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DelDOT) plans to temporarily move it to adjacent land owned by Robert Kennedy.
Kennedy has agreed to lease his property for at least three years to give the bridge a home while Wray’s group settles on a permanent place for it. DelDOT is paying for the initial move, which is expected to take place this fall.
Wray says finding a new permanent home requires raising some money, but he’s confident state lawmakers may chip in some Community Transportation Funding.
Wray notes permanent sites being considered for the Lewes swing bridge include Great Marsh Park and George H.P. Smith Park.
DelDOT is hosting a public meeting Thursday, Feb 20, 2020 at the Lewes Library to discuss the project. That meeting starts at 2 p.m.
