The Delaware River and Bay Authority’s deck overlay pilot project on the Delaware Memorial Bridge starts soon.
The five week project begins following Labor Day Weekend and will affect the New Jersey-bound span.
The Ultra High Performance Concrete deck overlay pilot project will cost six-point-two million dollars.
Recent findings of a bridge deck study showed that particular deck on the New Jersey-bound span is exhibiting accelerated deterioration and it needs substantial repair.
DRBA Spokesman Jim Salmon explains the fix.
"The project entails the removal of the old deck to a depth about three three and three-quarter inches, repair of the reinforcing mat underneath, the installation of a replacement overlay using this Ultra High Performance Concrete," said Salmon. "In the end the product should be stronger than the original deck."
Salmon says the overlay project is more cost effective and practical than a full deck replacement.
"It's a lot cheaper than if we did a total deck replacement program that's inordinately expensive and not only that but you will significantly interrupt traffic flow heading into New Jersey should that option had been taken," said Salmon.
Two lanes will be shut down to traffic during the project with an additional third lane shut down overnight.
