Delaware DOT Celebrates Project Completions Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

July 24, 2020

The Delaware Department of Transportation recently noted that it managed to complete $100 million worth of infrastructure projects across the state in the first half of 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Cohan

“While the pandemic presented unexpected challenges, our employees and contractors continued to innovate and find ways to not only continue working but expedite work by taking advantage of the significant decline in traffic volumes statewide,” noted Jennifer Cohan, secretary of the Delaware DOT, in a statement.

“This has been an unusual year, but we continue to press forward on the largest infrastructure program in Delaware’s history,” added Governor John Carney (D), who led a successful effort to beef up transportation funding for the state in 2019.

Gov. Carney

“Investments in our public infrastructure create good jobs, make our roadways safer, reduce the time we all spend in traffic, and generally improve quality of life for all Delawareans,” he said.

The Delaware DOT highlighted several major projects that its completed to date this calendar:

  • Milton Rails to Trails Phase II Project – This project included the installation of 1,600 feet of trail and the conversion of a railroad trestle to a pedestrian and bicyclist bridge.
  • Wilmington Transit Center – The new transit center, which opened in May, has the capacity to have up to 10 buses stage at one time allowing bus layovers without blocking city streets, and offers riders a smoke-free covered, seated waiting area, real-time bus displays, ticket sales, Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, vending machines, and bike racks with a bike repair station.
  • State Route 1 Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Bridge Rehabilitation – This was a significant rehabilitation project that involved replacing the bridge’s concrete decks, approach slabs, joints and bearings; correcting the vertical alignment; realigning the beams; repairing concrete chipping; strengthening concrete piers; sealing concrete abutments and piers; and stabilizing the canal banks.
  • Christina River Bridge and Approach Roads – This project built a new 470-foot multi-modal bridge over the Christina River that includes two 12-foot travel lanes and a separated 14-foot wide bicycle and pedestrian path, and more than 1.5 miles of new and improved roads, sidewalks, and parking.
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