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Canal bridge malfunction snarls traffic July 5

Bridge now fully operational
July 8, 2013

Traffic in Rehoboth Beach came to an even slower crawl than usual July 5 after the bridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal malfunctioned, stopping traffic into and out of Rehoboth.

Jim Westhoff, spokesman for Delaware Department of Transportation, said a faulty connection to the drawbridge's brakes caused the bridge to not be able to go all the way down after being opened. The bridge was handcranked back down, and boaters were advised that the bridge would not be able to open through the weekend.

The bridge was stuck for an hour to an hour-and-a half; Rehoboth Police Chief Keith Banks said the bridge does get stuck a couple times a year, and typically it goes down after being reset.

The bridge was fully operation again by July 8. Westhoff said DelDOT officials decided to wait until the heavy weekend traffic had subsided before working on the bridge.

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