Heavy lifting to start in Delaware I-95 project

The Delaware Department of Transportation will close Route 1 during the overnight hours later this week in order to put structural steel girders in place.  

The ongoing construction work will transform the interchange between Route 1 and I-95 which has been source of never-ending headaches for commuters and travelers through the state.  But before it gets better, the work will require the complete closure of Route and other on and off ramps for I-95 near the Christiana Mall.

The closures will start Friday night at 10 with the southbound lanes of Route 1.  The lanes are scheduled to reopen Saturday morning at 10.  The same lanes will be shut on Saturday from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m. on Sunday.  

Then next week, night time closures of Route 1 northbound from Route 273 to I-95 will start on Tuesday (10/9) at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday.  Similar closures will take place Wednesday and Thursday night as well.  More overnight closures are also planned for later in the month.

The interchange project will eventually allow for a high speed transition to and from I-95 and Route 1.  Right now, drivers  headed south on 95 slow to a stop as traffic backs up while other drivers negotiate a hairpin turn to get to Route 1 south.  Several overpasses are now under construction that will allow drivers to maintain highway speed as they exit 95.

The project is scheduled to be done by the end of next year.