LEWES, Del.- If you are heading into the town of Lewes, some lane closures might affect your evening travels. Over the next couple of weeks, the Delaware Department of Transportation will be repairing the drawbridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal between 2nd Street and Anglers Road.
DelDot says it will be cleaning and painting the bridge, replacing the sidewalks, repairing the roadway, and replacing the bridge warning signals. The temporary lane closures was to start Monday at 8 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. The single nighttime lane closures will only be on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings with flaggers on-site to direct motorists.
Dave Santo rides his bike over the Lewes Drawbridge for his morning exercise. Santo says this improvement needs to be made for the safety of people in Lewes.
"It has to be done and it's a major roadway in Lewes. I think this time of the year that they picked to fix the bridge isn't too bad," explains Santo.
DelDot contractors plan on making the bridge more pedestrian-friendly. DelDot says while the sidewalk on the one side is being replaced, pedestrians and cyclists may utilize the sidewalk on the other side of the bridge. Tarmaron Dignoti, a bartender at Wheelhouse in Lewes, says these changes will bring more foot traffic to her restaurant.
"There are a lot of people biking and walking through town due to high parking prices. I think these changes will definitely help our business and all the business's around town as well," announced Dignoti.
DelDot says the repairs to drawbridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal are expected to be finished on Sept. 30. Later this fall and winter, DelDOT will explain how this project will require additional lane/sidewalk closures and the closure of the roadway at night. DelDot says it will advise motorists in advance regarding the times and dates.