TRAFFIC ALERT: Work on Indian River Inlet Bridge to include traffic pattern changes starting Saturday

The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced that several traffic pattern switches will occur over the next week to allow for all lanes of traffic on the new Indian River Inlet Bridge to become active prior to Memorial Day weekend and to also allow for work on the new road under the bridge on the south side of the inlet to begin.

 
On Saturday, May 19, a connector road beneath the bridge will open. Once this road is open, northbound traffic heading from Bethany Beach will not be able to exit right into Delaware Seashore State Park. Instead drivers will have to proceed northbound over the bridge, make a U-turn at Savage’s Ditch Road, travel southbound back over the bridge, and then exit right to access the new connector road leading to the parking area, beach and bathhouse. This is expected to be in place until sometime in July, officials told the Coastal Point. 
 
Also on Saturday, May 19, work will be performed to open the northbound travel lanes over the new bridge. This work is expected to be completed early Saturday evening. There wll be periods of short traffic stoppages to accommodate striping removal and placement work.
 
On Monday, May 21, work will begin to open the second southbound lane to traffic.  This work is expected to take one or two days and is weather dependent. This lane opening marks the completion of the bridge portion of the Indian River Inlet Bridge project.
 
Message boards have been placed in the area to alert motorists of the traffic pattern changes that will be occurring throughout the week. 
 
For more information about the Access Road A and B Connector, visit the “Project Phasing Maps” page of the project website at www.deldot.gov/information/projects/indian_river_bridge_approaches/phase_maps.shtml.  When you reach the page, click on “Phase 3B – Access Road A & B”.
 
Additional information is available on DelDOT’s website at www.DelDOT.gov or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DelawareDOT and Twitter at www.twitter.com/DelawareDOT.