NEW CASTLE, Del. – Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that the final phase of the major construction project to rehabilitate the bridge deck (driving surface) of the New Jersey bound span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge (DMB) is now underway.   Two (2) right lanes of the northbound span will be continuously closed until just before the Thanksgiving holiday period.  The bypass lane for northbound traffic on the Delaware bound span is now open.

“The safety of our bridge customers and on-site contractors are our highest priority and we urge motorists to be careful, stay alert in and around the construction zone and obey all posted speed limits,” DRBA Chief Engineer David A. Hoppenjans.  “We’re coming into the final stretch of this project, and we thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding as we work as diligently as we can to wrap up this project.” 

Hoppenjans noted that with the completion of this phase in late November, this innovative deck overlay project is expected to be substantially complete. 

Phase 3 will take place in the two right lanes of the New Jersey bound span, east of suspended bridge midpoint (“New Jersey side”) through November 21, 2023.   Two lanes on the New Jersey bound structure will be closed to traffic throughout the time frame – with an additional third lane occasionally shut down during the overnight hours for construction related operations. The remaining lanes on the New Jersey bound structure will be open to traffic.  

To accommodate anticipated traffic volumes, a bypass lane has been established to divert some traffic around the construction zone.  This bypass lane, which channels traffic to the exterior lane of the Delaware bound span, is recommended for passenger cars bound for the New Jersey Turnpike only.  Commercial vehicles are not permitted to use the bypass lane. The remaining three (3) lanes of the Delaware bound span will be open for southbound traffic.    

While the project has been designed to minimize traffic delays to the extent possible, motorists may encounter them, particularly during rush hour time periods and peak weekend travel times.  For the latest in traffic information and project updates, follow the Bridge on Twitter @demembridge or sign up for text alerts at www.bridgealerts.com.

In March 2022, the DRBA contracted with UHPC Solutions North America LLC of Orange, New Jersey to undertake the deck overlay project on the New Jersey-bound Span of the DMB.  The three-phase project has a price tag of approximately $71 million.

About the Delaware River and Bay Authority
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing.  The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers - two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (Wilmington Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities.  For more information, visit www.drba.net.