Rehoboth Beach, Del. – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) will undertake maintenance cleaning and painting of the Rehoboth Beach drawbridge later this year to extend the bridge’s lifespan. The project, which is expected to take about 10 weeks, will involve the removal of old paint, treatment of corrosion, and the application of new protective coatings. DelDOT held an informational meeting on April 7, where Jonathan T. Moore, DelDOT bridge maintenance and construction supervising engineer, explained that while there are no immediate structural concerns, areas of active corrosion need attention to prevent future damage.
The Rehoboth Beach drawbridge, which spans the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, was constructed in 1986. It handles an average of 21,673 vehicles per day but has not been fully painted since 1996. The upcoming work will involve applying a three-coat system to the bridge’s steel and a two-coat system to the concrete structure. Temporary lane shifts will occur during the installation of the containment system, and traffic lanes will return to normal afterward. There will also be boating restrictions while the bridge cannot be opened during certain phases of the project. Canal Street will be dead-ended near the bridge to provide a staging area for the work. The project, which is part of a larger $5.5 million initiative to paint several local bridges, is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
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