A contractor from Bear was the apparent low bidder in a two-year project to provide barriers along Route 1 and Interstate 95.
Thie project will install an additional 11.5 miles of barrier from Middletown to Smyrna and also will add barrier on I-95 from the Pennsylvania/Delaware state line to Harvey Road. Following the completion of those projects, the Department plans to build another 12 miles of median barrier from Smyrna to Dover.
JJID, Bear came in with a low bid of $8.4 million for the project, well above the $6.4 million engineer’s estimate. Construction costs have been rising, due in part to a high volume of work, a growing labor shortage and a lack of bidders. Only two companies made bids for the barrier project.
DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod said DelDOT’s Traffic Division started that design work on the project had been underway before an accident on Route 1 claimed five lives.
Our view: A near miss on Route 1
DelDOT has moved to cable, rather than concrete Jersey Walls, due to the ability of the system to stop large vehicles. Guardrails and energy-absorbing end caps will also be used in the two projects.
