Wilmington water main replacement project gets underway

Drivers along Pennsylvania Avenue between Union Street and Lincoln Street will be dealing with lane restrictions as the City of Wilmington begins a water main replacement project.

Public works officials say the water main is deteriorating and failing to repair it now would result in more water main breaks in the future. 

Both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with construction expected to take place between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. weekdays starting tonight.  Work may also continue during daytime hours on Saturdays.  Turning onto Union Street will still be permitted. 

Temporary patching will be done each day of the project, allowing all lanes to remain open between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  The project is expected to wrap up before Christmas. 

The city says minimal water interruption will take place during the construction.

Additionally, Wedgewood Road near Newark is closing between Fox Lane and Bennington Drive this week for the replacement of culvert pipes.  Drivers may use Route 896, proceed to Hillside Road, then get on Route 273 to return to Wedgewood Road.

Finally, in the Townsend area, Blackbird Station Road between Dexter Corner Road and Blackbird Forest Road is closed for repairs to the Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing.  The detour is to head east on Blackbird Station Road, north on Dexter Corner Road, east on Ratledge Road then south on Summit Bridge Road.