Click here for earlier story
Construction will get under way in January on the new U.S. 301 toll road in southern New Castle County following a successful bidding process that selected Tutor Perini Corp.’s Cherry Hill Construction subsidiary as the low bidder on the first major phase of the project.
The long-overdue toll road aims to provide a quicker route for through traffic in the fast-growing Middletown area while easing growing local congestion along Route 301. Budget constraints and delays over the exact route have held up the project
The Delaware Department of Transportation had earlier announced that Cherry Hill was the low bidder, pending final approval by the Markell administration and state finance officials. The final barrier to the project was cleared earlier when the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a bonding plan for the toll road that is structured to take into account gradual growth in toll revenues.
In awarding the $69.842 million contract, DelDOT said it expects to complete final financing for the entire construction project, including a $240 million public offering of toll-backed revenue bonds. The project cost is estimated at upwards of half a billion dollars.
The four-lane, limited access highway will link U.S. 301 at the Maryland line southwest of Middletown and Del. 1 between the Biddles Toll Plaza and the Roth Bridge over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.
A second major construction contract to build the longest segment of the toll road – a 4.5 mile stretch from the new Levels Road Interchange to where the new highway crosses over existing U.S. 301 – is expected to be awarded within the next couple of weeks.
The nearly $100 million contract would be the largest award of the entire project. DelDOT will be soliciting bids for additional contracts needed to build the road through the end of the year and into next year. The project was broken up into pieces to increase competition for bids. Also, few contractors would be capable of doing the project in one bite.
Allan Meyers of suburban Philadelphia was the apparent low-bidder for the second project. Myers recently acquired Delaware-based Daisy Construction, a heavy-highway company.
DelDOT will hold a Construction Information Meeting December 9 at the Middletown Fire Hall at 27 West Green Street from 4 to 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the various phases and impacts of the construction project throughout its expected three-year duration. Additional information on the workshop will be provided in the coming days.
Governor Jack Markell said, “The start of construction on U.S. 301 means we can look forward to much-improved traffic conditions between Delaware Rt. 1 and U.S. 50 going to and from Delaware and the Baltimore / Washington, DC area. It brings the opportunity to create thousands of jobs through construction and by providing the infrastructure to boost economic development in southern New Castle County.”
DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan said, “Delaware has contemplated the construction of a new, limited-access U.S. 301 for many years due to increasing traffic pressure and safety concerns in southern New Castle County. As we take the final steps necessary to begin construction, I am grateful for the assistance and support this project has received from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Delaware’s Congressional delegation, Governor Markell, the Delaware General Assembly, New Castle County, and the town of Middletown. I look forward to the day in the near future when we will join together and break ground on this important transformational transportation project.”
