By Craig Anderson

DOVER — There’s been a noticeable overall improvement of Delaware’s bridges in the past half-decade.

That’s what stood out when Dr. Alison Black reviewed related federal-government findings.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s chief economist found that Delaware had “significantly reduced the number of bridges in poor condition” over the last five years. The number dropped from 39 to 17 during that span.

Additionally, “The number of bridges in need of repair, based on the inspection reports, has also declined,” she said.

Ms. Black drew her conclusions from Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory data downloaded on Jan. 3. The report noted that recent work or updated inspections since then may have altered the numbers.

As of early this year, Delaware was ranked fourth-best nationally with 1.9% of structurally deficient bridges among all in the state. Size isn’t an indicator of how bridge conditions rate among the states, Ms. Black said.

“While Delaware may not have as many bridges as some states, neither does Rhode Island, and they have significant challenges with bridge conditions,” she said.

“Some of that reflects the age of the infrastructure and weather conditions.”

For Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Nicole Majeski, state control of bridges is crucial in keeping them in good shape. Of the ones deemed in poor condition, she said half are either in construction or heading into construction in the next year.

“We are unique in Delaware in that we own and maintain 90 percent of the bridges in the state,” she said. “We have, fortunately, made a concerted effort to fund (bridge repair).”

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Delaware will receive $45 million from the federal government in each of the next five years. The state will provide another $80 million to $90 million overall in funding.

Ongoing bridge projects include U.S. 13 over the Nanticoke River, which is scheduled for conclusion prior to the Memorial Day holiday.

Also, work on bridges on Del. 1 northbound and southbound over Broadkill River is slated for completion by the spring this year.

The state’s most active drawbridge — over Cedar Creek in Milford — was built in 1949 and is scheduled for replacement. In a project justification posted online, DelDOT explained that, “The existing structure has been subject to significant corrosion which has caused section loss and continuous maintenance issues ...

“Replacement of this bridge will help the Department meet its performance measure for percentage of bridges in poor condition.”

Construction on the drawbridge will commence in 2023 and conclude in 2024, according to DelDOT’s plan.

Additionally, removal of a bridge over the Lewes/Rehoboth Canal is set to finish by the spring. DelDOT noted that, “The existing bridge is approximately 100 years old and has been closed due to a deteriorated rest pier that has settled more than six inches. The pivot pier has also settled and is leaning inward toward the canal.”

Also, DelDOT said, “Due to the historical significance of the bridge, once removed from its current location much of it will be reinstalled at an alternate location for public display and educational purposes.”

Delaware’s most-traveled structurally deficient bridges in Kent County, according to the FHA, include:

• Lebanon Road/Del. 10 westbound over the St. Jones River, built in 1965, with 13,178 daily crossings
• Maple Avenue over Mispillion River, built in 1977, with 99 daily crossings.

Sussex County’s deficient bridges include:

• Del. 54 over Assawoman Bay, built in 1957, with 7,769 daily crossings
• Delaware Avenue over Broad Creek, built in 1966, with 1,268 daily crossings
• U.S. 9 over Delaware Bay, built in 1964, with 1,237 daily crossings
• Craigs Mill Road over Craigs Pond Spillway, built in 1973, with 380 daily crossings.

According to Ms. Majeski, there’s no imminent danger in traveling over a low-rated bridge.

“When we say it may be in poor condition, the bridge deck itself, what people are driving over is totally fine,” she said. “It could be that we are replacing some of the infrastructure under the bridge, or we’re looking at the undercarriage of the bridge.

“The bridgework isn’t something you always see.”

DelDOT inspects each bridge every two years to determine the conditions of the structures, and uses data to prioritize projects. Ms. Majeski said that part of the plan is to provide preservation work on fair condition bridges to keep them from dipping down into poor condition.

Delaware also compares well regionally in regards to the average age of its bridges, at 44 years. That’s younger than New Jersey (56), Pennsylvania (53) and Maryland (50), and just above the national average, Ms. Black found.

Key findings reported by the FHA in Delaware included:

• Of the 875 bridges in the state, 17, or 1.9%, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition. This is down from 39 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2017.
• The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 3.1% of total deck area on all structures.
•  None of the structurally deficient bridges are on the Interstate Highway System. A total of 82.4% of the structurally deficient bridges are not on the National Highway System, which includes the Interstate and other key roads linking major airports, ports, rail and truck terminals.
• 23 bridges are posted for load, which may restrict the size and weight of vehicles crossing the structure.
• The state has identified needed repairs on 317 bridges at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion. This compares to 360 bridges that needed work in 2017.

Besides Delaware, states and territories with the fewest bridges in poor condition percentage-wise include: Arizona, Nevada and Texas, all 1.4%, Utah and Georgia at 2.1%, Vermont at 2.4% and the District of Columbia at 2.9%. Florida and Alabama are both at 3.6%.

The states and territories with the most bridges in poor condition are West Virginia (20%), Iowa (19%), Rhode Island (17.5%), South Dakota (17.3%), Pennsylvania (13.8%), Louisiana (12.7%), Maine (12.6%), Puerto Rico (12.1%), North Dakota (11.2%) and Michigan (11%).