Rehoboth Avenue drawbridge cleaning, painting to begin October 17

October 7, 2025

**Update 12/18/25: The initial inspection is today. The Contractor will then have a list of punch list items that they need to do prior to completion, with 15 days to work on it. They will be off the week of 12/29. The week of 1/5, they will be cleaning and painting the concrete below and above deck. The containment should be gone and overall completion by mid-January.  

**Update 12/9/25: The current anticipated substantial completion date for BR 3-153 on Rehoboth Ave is mid-January 2026. However, they are trending ahead of schedule.

As part of a statewide DelDOT project, the Rehoboth Avenue drawbridge will be cleaned and painted beginning on Friday, October 17. These processes are necessary to maintain the longevity of the bridge, as corrosion has built up since it was last painted in 1996. While there are no structural issues due to paint corrosion at this time, the drawbridge is vulnerable to reduced service if left untreated.

The cleaning, stripping, re-painting of the bridge will take place during the daytime, with minimal impacts to traffic. Traffic patterns will be maintained, while temporary lane shifts may be placed from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday then fully restored after working hours. Bicyclists will travel in the car lane, as the bike lane will be closed. As the drawbridge cannot open during construction, only small boats will be allowed to pass through the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.

Additionally, the north end of Canal Street will be closed throughout the project while DelDOT utilizes the gravel area next to the bridge for equipment. A detour will be placed for Canal Street; residents will still have access to their homes. Please note the Canal Street detour will not take effect until October 27th.

The project will take two months to complete, and work will be paused during the Sea Witch Festival.