The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that US 13 northbound and southbound under the SR 141/Basin Road Bridge will be closed to through traffic beginning at 6 AM on Saturday, January 13.

US 13 northbound traffic lanes will reopen at approximately 4 AM on Sunday, January 14. US 13 southbound traffic lanes will reopen by 5 AM on Monday, January 15. At all times, the right through lane on both US 13 northbound and southbound will remain open for the duration of the closure for access to local businesses. During this weekend closure, motorists are advised to seek alternate routes which are noted below.

Implementing this weekend closure will save significant time in the placement of the new deck panels as the contractor works toward completing the new road surface and reopening for traffic.

Variable message boards will be in place to notify motorists of the upcoming closure with detour routes.

Local businesses, such as Airbase Carpet Mart and Arner’s Restaurant, will be OPEN and accessible to customers during the closure.

Detour Routes:

US 13 Southbound: Traffic will follow I-295 to south Route 9/New Castle Avenue to SR 273 west (Ferry Cut Off Street/Delaware Street/Frenchtown Road) to US 13.

US 13 Southbound (Local Traffic Detour): Traffic will follow US 13 southbound and take north US 202/SR 141 New Castle/Newport Exit Ramp. Follow northbound on US 202/SR 141 to Commons Boulevard/Airport Road south to SR 58/Churchmans Road east to SR 273 east and return to US 13.

US 13 Northbound: Traffic will turn east onto SR 273/Frenchtown Road to SR 141 north/Basin Road to Exit 1A/US 13/US 40 Wilmington/Delaware Memorial Bridge Exit Ramp.

A map of the detour routes is available below:

DelDOT 1/5-18/18 US 13 Detour

Governor John Carney has terminated the Level 2 Driving Restriction in Sussex County, effective at 12:00 p.m. The State of Emergency will remain in effect in Sussex County until further notice to allow the Delaware National Guard to continue assisting local and state authorities with response to the winter storm.

While the Level 2 Driving Restriction will no longer be in place, DelDOT advises all motorists that there will still be snow covered secondary roads with significant drifting and subdivisions will likely not see plows until Saturday.

Road Conditions Update:
Icy conditions will remain throughout the weekend due the extreme cold, and motorists should also be alert for drifting snow on roadways statewide.

In Sussex County, DelDOT has brought additional plows from northern Delaware, and contractual plow operators are also assisting in the snow clearing effort.

DelDOT will continue to provide regular updates throughout the duration of the storm event.

Based on conditions in Sussex County, no DART First State bus service will operate on Friday, January 5, 2018, with the exception of dialysis paratransit trips.

All services in Kent and New Castle Counties are expected to operate with likely delays on Friday.

Road Conditions Update:
With the ongoing State of Emergency and the Level 2 Driving Restriction remaining in effect for Sussex County, the priority for DelDOT is clearing and treating all primary roadways before plowing secondary roads. With the combination of strong winds, drifting snow, and intense cold, getting to all roads is going to take time and DelDOT crews will continue to work to clear roads as quickly as possible. In addition, salt is less effective in melting snow and ice in extremely low temperatures such as those we will experience over the next 72 hours. DelDOT maintenance and operations yards have been fully staffed since 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and for the safety of our employees, there is a required five hour rest period every 24 hours.

Governor Carney will continue to assess conditions with DEMA, Delaware State Police, and DelDOT in making the determination as to when to lift the State of Emergency and the Level 2 Driving Restriction for Sussex County.

The Level 2 Driving Restriction means that no person may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for persons designated as “essential personnel.” 

While Kent and New Castle Counties have seen lesser snow accumulations, high winds and drifting snow are still a hazard and motorists should be cautious of icy conditions due to the below freezing temperatures. DelDOT snow plows remain active in plowing and treating primary and secondary roadways.

DelDOT’s snow plow tracker and traffic cameras are available via the DelDOT app and website to view real-time snow plow activity and road conditions by means of more than 100 traffic cameras statewide. As of 5:30 p.m. today, www.deldot.gov had more than 201,000 pageviews – an increase of more than 432 percent from Wednesday, January 3.

DelDOT will continue to provide regular updates throughout the duration of the storm event.

With roadway conditions continuing to deteriorate, Governor Carney on Thursday issued a State of Emergency for Sussex County and Level 2 Driving Restriction. The State of Emergency for Sussex County took effect at 2:00 p.m., and the Level 2 Driving Restriction took effect at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 4. Governor Carney also authorized the Delaware National Guard to assist state and local officials with any necessary response and recovery for this severe winter storm.

Delaware has a three-level system of driving warnings and restrictions. The levels are found in Title 20 of the Delaware Code, Subsection 3116(b)(12) and may be put in effect by the Governor during a State of Emergency for all or parts of Delaware based on conditions.

The Level 2 Driving Restriction means that no person may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for persons designated as “essential personnel.” 

Level 2 – Driving Restriction Definition:
Travel on the roads is restricted to emergency workers, public utilities, healthcare providers including hospital staff, public and private operators of snow removal equipment, private sector food and fuel deliveries, and those industries, companies, or organizations that have been provided a waiver, including businesses with pressing continuity and operational issues.

Road Conditions Update:
In Sussex County, DelDOT is advising residents that this will be a prolonged clean up event due to the high winds, drifting snow, and extremely cold temperatures. DelDOT will continue to focus its efforts on plowing primary roads.

While Kent and New Castle Counties have seen lesser snow accumulations, high winds and drifting snow are still a hazard and motorists should be cautious of icy conditions due to the below freezing temperatures. DelDOT snow plows remain active in plowing and treating primary roadways.

DelDOT will continue to provide regular updates throughout the duration of the storm event.

UPDATED JANUARY 4, 2018:

As a result of the inclement weather, the planned closure of US 13 beginning Friday, January 5, 2018, is canceled.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that US 13 northbound under the SR 141/Basin Road Bridge will be closed to through traffic beginning at 8 PM on Friday, January 5. Local businesses will still be accessible via US 13 north and south.

US 13 southbound will remain open until approximately 6 AM on Saturday, January 6. At all times, the right lane on both US 13 northbound and southbound will remain open for the duration of the closure for access to local businesses. This work is anticipated to be completed by 5 AM on Monday, January 8. During this weekend closure, motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Implementing this weekend closure will save significant time in the placement of the new deck panels as the contractor works toward the goal of reopening the bridge to traffic in late January.

Variable message boards will be in place to notify motorists of the upcoming closure with detour routes.

Local businesses, such as Airbase Carpet Mart and Arner’s Restaurant, will be OPEN and accessible to customers during the closure.

Detour Routes:

US 13 Southbound: Traffic will follow I-295 to south Route 9/New Castle Avenue to SR 273 west (Ferry Cut Off Street/Delaware Street/Frenchtown Road) to US 13.

US 13 Southbound (Local Traffic Detour): Traffic will follow US 13 southbound and take north US 202/SR 141 New Castle/Newport Exit Ramp. Follow northbound on US 202/SR 141 to Commons Boulevard/Airport Road south to SR 58/Churchmans Road east to SR 273 east and return to US 13.

US 13 Northbound: Traffic will turn east onto SR 273/Frenchtown Road to SR 141 north/Basin Road to Exit 1A/US 13/US 40 Wilmington/Delaware Memorial Bridge Exit Ramp.

An aerial map of the detour routes is available here: DelDOT 1/5-18/18 US 13 Detour