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Tractor trailers no longer allowed through Wilmington work zone

Mark Fowser Photo
DelDOT is implementing a ban on tractor trailers on I-95 through its Wilmington work zone.

Big rigs are banned on I-95 through the Wilmington work zone.

Delaware’s Department of Transportation put up signs earlier this week alerting truckers of the change. They also spoke with regional trucking organizations about the new policy.

 

“DelDOT is enacting this temporary restriction following discussions with Delaware State Police, as our ongoing effort continues to make the I-95 construction zone as safe as possible," said DelDOT’s director of community relations, C.R. McLeod. "We’ve just seen a number of crashes - especially involving tractor trailers - that lead to long-term closures of the roadway.”

McLeod says since this major project started earlier this year, there have been 21 crashes involving tractor trailers that snarl traffic for quite some time due to their size.

 

DelDOT acknowledges the trucks are not always at fault in these crashes, but the inter-mixing of traffic in the construction zone means they  tend to be more serious and stall traffic for hours.

 

He says this ban on the 5-mile stretch of highway will continue through the remainder of the more than $200 million project, which will run for at least another year.

The project is repairing 19 bridges and 11 ramps - as well as resurfacing the entire viaduct running through Wilmington.

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.