Road work on Route 1 in Rehoboth, Dewey set to begin

Several Route 1 road improvement projects in Rehoboth and Dewey are slated to resume or begin soon.

According to a Sept. 12 press release from the Delaware Department of Transportation, the projects include a heavy-duty refurbishment of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge on Route 1, the continuation of sidewalk improvements along the Forgotten Mile into Dewey Beach, and a cross-pipe replacement project south of Dewey.

Work on two of the projects – bridge and sidewalks – is expected to begin as early as Sunday, Sept. 22. The third project is expected to begin in November.

According to the press release, beginning the evening of Sunday, Sept. 22, the northbound lanes of the Route 1 canal bridge will close. On the southbound bridge, there will be two southbound lanes and a northbound lane.

When the northbound bridge is complete, the traffic pattern will shift and the southbound bridge will be closed. During that time, there will be two northbound lanes and one southbound lane available.

According to DelDOT, the project involves replacing the bridge's concrete decks, approach slabs, joints and bearings; correcting the vertical alignment; realigning the beams; repairing concrete chipping; strengthening concrete piers; sealing concrete abutments and piers; and stabilizing the canal banks. Lighting will also be added to the bridge.

All lanes of traffic are expected to be open during daytime hours by May 2020.

Forgotten Mile, Dewey sidewalk improvements

The Forgotten Mile and Dewey Beach sidewalk improvements will resume Monday, Sept. 23. The RFP issued for this project says there will be pavement milling, asphalt mix and concrete patching, asphalt mix overlay, improvements for accessibility and pavement markings.

The project began in spring 2019 and stopped for the summer months. It’s expected to be completed by April 2020. 

The project will require intermittent lane and sidewalk closures. The work area begins at Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and ends at Tower Road.

Pipe replacement south of Dewey

The replacement of a cross pipe on Route 1 just south of Dewey is expected to begin November. The replacement of the pipe, at Bedford and Hazlett streets, will require closure of southbound Route 1. There will be one travel lane available to traffic in each direction through the duration of the project, which is expected to last for several weeks. 

Signs and message boards will be posted throughout the area alerting motorists to the lane closures and shifts as a result of this work.