The St. Georges Bridge over the C&D Canal will close beginning today for a year and a half reconstruction project with a price tag of nearly $46 million.
The $45.8 million contract, awarded to J.D. Eckman, Inc., suburban Philadelphpia, involves demolishing and replacing the bridge decking, median barrier, drainage features; replacing bridge approaches and roadways; and repairing other bridge structural features. Work is funded by the federal government through Energy and Water appropriation
During construction, traffic will be detoured to the Senator William Roth Route 1 Bridge.
The purpose of the repairs is to improve the structural condition and traveling surface of the bridge. St. Georges Bridge is a tied arch structure that was constructed in 1941 and modified in 2010.
The last major construction project on the bridge was lead paint abatement in 2000–2001.
The St. Georges Bridge faced an uncertain fate with the completion of the sleek Roth Bridge on nearby Route 1 a couple of decade ago Growth in Middletown-Odessa and adjacent areas and no tolls led to a steady flow of traffic over the bridge. The Roth bridge does not come with a toll, but requires motorists to enter Route 13 to avoid charges on Route 1.
No bridge overhaul was scheduled until now, with the deck with motorists finding bumpy conditions on the bridge deck despite wieght restrictions.
