BEAR – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today the closure of Howell School Road for paving, between Robert Peoples Boulevard and Red Lion Road, Bear, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 21 through Nov. 8.

For the convenience of Lums Pond State Park visitors who use the dog park lot on Buck Jersey Road at the East end of Howell School Road, there will be a temporary parking area set up at the primitive campground access road off of Red Lion Road (Route 71). The dog park lot will also remain open but may be difficult to access during construction.

The public will have access to the main entrance to Lums Pond State Park from Route 896 and Howell School Road during construction. For more information about Lums Pond State Park visit destateparks.com/lums or call 302-368-6989.

Media Contact: Greg Abbott, DNREC Division of Parks & Recreation, 302-739-9220

As part of the ongoing US 301 Mainline Project, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced nighttime closures of SR 1 southbound between US 13 southbound and Pole Bridge Road for the installation of structural components of the new US 301 bridge over SR 1.

The closures will occur on the following:

• 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, November 19
• 9 p.m. on Sunday, November 19 until 5 a.m. on Monday, November 20
• 9 p.m. on Monday, November 20 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21
• 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21 until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22
• The week after Thanksgiving: 9 p.m. on Monday, November 27 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28
  SR 1 southbound will be closed between US 13 southbound and Pole Bridge.

Detour Route: Motorists should follow the posted detour to Exit 148/Lorewood Grove Road onto US 13 southbound to Pole Bridge Road and return to SR 1 southbound.

The tolls will be waived at the entrance to SR 1 southbound from Pole Bridge Road.

Additionally, the following lane closures will be in effect on Monday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 21 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.:

• A single left or right lane closure on SR 1 northbound and southbound between the Biddles Toll Plaza and the Roth Bridge.
• A single right lane closure along US 13 southbound between the Free Ramp to SR 1 and Port Penn Road.
• A single left lane closure along US 13 northbound between Hyetts Corner Road and Port Penn Road.

For further information of the US 301 Mainline Project, please visit https://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/us301/

DelDOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) and WTMC-1380 AM provides motorists real-time traffic conditions throughout the state. Motorists can contact the TMC 24/7 to report any travel or traffic related issues at the following numbers: Dial #77 from any cell phone in Delaware.

LEWES – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today that Post Road in Cape Henlopen State Park will be closed for repairs July 11-12. The initial milling and pothole repair work on July 11 will prepare the roadway for repaving on July 12. The work, performed by contractor Peninsula Paving, will be concentrated on a section of Post Road that extends from the Point Comfort Station parking area, south to the Post Road/Officer’s Road intersection.

For questions about the project and up-to-date information, please contact Cape Henlopen State Park Superintendent Paul Faircloth at 302-645-8983.

Wilmington – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced an immediate closure of Bridge 1-813 over the Christina River on 1-495.

DelDOT is closing the bridge today because an inspection showed four of the 37 support columns are tilted as much as four percent out of vertical alignment. The bridge is closed as of 6:00 p.m. today.  This will cause a significant impact to the traveling public, and we are coordinating with local, state, and federal partners to provide information as we receive it. Our bridge engineers and consultant are on the scene and are placing tilt sensors to monitor the bridge.

I-495 will be closed northbound at Terminal Avenue and message boards are in place on I-95 and SR 1 and Rt. 13. Local northbound traffic can stay on I-495 to Terminal Avenue. I-495 southbound will be closed at the Pennsylvania State Line.  Southbound traffic will be directed to take I-95 southbound.

DelDOT received a report about an anomaly with a column late Friday. An inspection crew was sent out first thing Monday morning. Additionally, a notification was received from a DelDOT Equipment Operator Monday morning who noticed a shifting of the concrete barrier on the road surface. After reviewing the data and pictures, our bridge engineer recommended closure until further investigation can be done.

Bridge 1-813 over the Christina is a concrete deck on steel beams, built in 1974.  It was last inspected in October 2012, and bridges of this type are inspected every two years. This section of I-495 carries approximately 90,000 vehicles daily.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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