Small Town News

Freeman Highway repairs to restrict traffic March 8 through June 25

---

In the 45 years since it was built, the Freeman Highway bridge over Lewes-Rehoboth Canal has rarely, if ever, been closed to traffic for repairs. Starting Monday, March 8, however, diat will change.

From that date until June 25, bridge traffic will be reduced to one lane while Mumford and Miller contractors out of Middle-town complete a $1.8 million rehabilitation for owner Delaware River and Bay Authority. In addition to auto traffic restrictions, no pedestrians or bicyclists will be allowed on the bridge during die March 8 to June 25 window. Otiier aspects of the rehabilitation work, not affecting traffic or pedestrians and bicyclists, will continue beneath the bridge until the project's final completion date of Sept. 25, 2010.

Construction work will also close a popular fishing area beneath the bridge along Gills Neck Road. That area, said officials, will reopen to fishermen when all work is complete.

"People will be working overhead, and our first concern in all of this is safety," said authority spokesman Jim Salmon.

Senior Project Engineer Joseph Volk said the work has been designed and scheduled to minimize inconvenience to travelers. "Due to the nature of the first phase, traffic on the Freeman Highway bridge will be reduced to one lane which will be regulated with a traffic signal on the approach to both sides of the bridge," said Volk. "We plan to complete this on or before June 25 so that both lanes on the bridge can be open for the busy summer season."

The principal work consists of milling the hot mix overlay and resurfacing with latex modified concrete, replacing approach slabs, replacing three expansion joints, replacing the parapets and sidewalks, replacing 36 expansion rocker bearings, performing some steelwork repairs, replacing navigation lighting, installing fiberglass-reinforced plastics for piers and abutments, erecting underbridge slope protection for abutments, and replacing guiderail, curb and gutter, catch basins and piping.

Authority officials said the posted speed limit of 35 mp.h. in the construction zone will be strictly enforced.

The Freeman Highway bridge was built shortly after the Delaware River and Bay Authority formed in 1962, to serve the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. "It's saying something to get 45 years out of a bridge like this without major repairs," said Volk, "especially in a saltwater environment that is so tough on metaL"

Freeman Highway is named for 1948 Lewes High School graduate Ted Freeman, who was one of the original U.S. astronauts. He died in a jet plane accident in Texas in 1962.





© 2010 Cape Gazette Lewes, Delaware. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cape Gazette