Delaware I-495 bridge could open earlier than expected

According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, construction of the I-495 Bridge is ahead of schedule.

The construction of underground foundation for the damaged sections of the bridge is nearly completed and if progress continues at this rate, the department said they could open the southbound lane of the bridge “several weeks prior to the Labor Day holiday weekend.”

Crews are also in the process of drilling 32 new shafts down to the bedrock for the new support columns and are assembling jacking towers which will be installed on the new foundation to help with realignment.

“I am deeply impressed by the professionalism and ‘can-do’ spirit of everyone involved in this project,” said DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt. “It is evident from the pace of construction that the entire team has been seamlessly moving from one stage of work to the next, while also conducting operations simultaneously. During my frequent visits to the site, I’m impressed at how well coordinated and efficient everyone is working.”

DelDOT has estimated that bridge repairs would take most of the summer to complete. Bhatt set the initial goal of Labor Day to begin opening some parts of the bridge to traffic.