By Noah Zucker

FELTON — Along a country road in Felton, construction crews have been at work since November assembling a nearly quarter-mile-long metal footbridge over Killens Pond State Park’s eponymous body of water.

Shauna McVey, a public information officer with Delaware State Parks, said the new walkway is expected to be complete and open to the public in early April.

“The new Killens Pond State Park elevated boardwalk provides a safer trail connection along the eastern edge of Killens Pond,” she said.

At present, to access the eastern portion of the park’s trails, hikers have to walk on the shoulder of Killens Pond Road, which is a safety hazard.

“The trails down there where the new bridge is originally came right out onto the road,” said Michael Hitch, the park’s superintendent. “Coming out onto that road, everyone who walked our trail that goes around the (entirety of the) pond had to utilize that road to get from one section of the trail to the other.”

He said that “with the heavy traffic and people speeding up and down the road, … it just wasn’t safe.”

Soon, hikers will have a dedicated walkway — 10 feet wide and 350-plus yards long — that Ms. McVey said is compliant with the American With Disabilities Act.

But the footbridge is more than just a utilitarian walkway. It’s a fishing destination in its own right.

“It provides more appealing views while walking along the pond and new fishing opportunities,” Ms. McVey said.

Mr. Hitch said anglers should have plenty of room.

“I think the biggest thing with the bridge is it has four fishing bump-outs, or just observation bump-outs,” Mr. Hitch said. “It allows for people to bird-watch and fish because we don’t have a lot of shoreline areas for people to fish from. It’ll allow for more recreation.”

Mr. Hitch said the idea for the project first came up about 15 years ago.
“It (began) three superintendents ahead of me, so it’s been a while,” he said.
Of the $2 million price tag, Park Manager Sheila Linn described it as “pretty standard.”

Ms. McVey said the federal government matched the money the state put together, so the bridge is only costing Delaware about $1 million.

“The actual bridge itself was built by GatorDock down in Florida,” Mr. Hitch said.

Ms. McVey added that the bridge’s materials are sturdy.

“The walkway — trusses, railing, decking — is all aluminum,” she said. “The piles and support beams are galvanized steel with coatings and specially designed pads to prevent aluminum and steel from direct contact.”

Without special techniques or precautions, direct contact with steel causes aluminum to corrode quickly.

Individual sections of the bridge were brought up to Delaware on flatbed trucks, where they’re currently being assembled by R.E. Pierson Construction, a New Jersey-based contractor. Dover’s Century Engineering is also involved with the project.

Although Killens Pond is a popular destination for anyone looking to take a walk in a natural environment, that’s not all the park has to offer.

In addition to sports facilities, boat rentals and a nature center, the compound is also home to a big water park.

“There’s four 54-foot slides. Then, we have a tot lot area for the little kids and a larger pool with other features,” Ms. Linn said.

While the new footbridge is not yet open to the public, it’s nearing completion. Workers are now focusing on final details, like installing the benches and an educational display about the 66-acre pond.