Construction is starting for a multi-modal bridge over the Christina River on Wilmington’s Riverfront.
The $28 million dollar project’s primary purpose is to relieve congestion on the Riverfront, especially before and after events at the Chase Center and Frawley Stadium.
“It is a challenge to get in and out of the current Riverfront area,” said Mark Tudor with Delaware’s Department of Transportation. “What this project will do is it will provide a way for people to both get here and leave here.”
The bridge will provide a direct connection from the riverfront to Route 13 and South Market Street
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki said with the Wilmington Riverfront on one side of the Christina River and opportunities for development on the other, it could also be a “game changer” in other ways.
“Across the way we can envision something very similar to what you see at the Navy Yard up in Philadelphia - I mean just a flat out really attractive place for people to bring jobs to Delaware,” Purzycki said.
The bridge will connect the Wilmington Riverfront to the Southbridge neighborhood and Route 13 south of the train station. On that side, the state hopes to spur economic development redevelop polluted industrial sites.
It will also include a 14-foot wide bicycle and pedestrian path that connects to the Riverfront walkway.
Department of Transportation officials expect the construction of the bridge to take two years.
The state also plans to build additional roadway connections to the bridge that would be finished in 2020.
