Cleaning & Painting of Rehoboth Avenue Drawbridge Begins October 17; Start of Canal Street Detour Delayed till Oct 27

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 beginning on October 27 for the remainder of 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. The detour is expected to be in place through January 19, 2026.

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

Beginning October 27, Canal Street will be closed between Rehoboth Avenue and 6th Street. 

Detour –  

• Eastbound motorists will enter the circle on SR-1A Rehoboth Ave, exit right onto Grove St, turn right onto 6^th St, and arrive at Canal St.
• Northbound motorists will turn right onto 6^th St, left onto Grove St and arrive at SR-1A Rehoboth Ave.   
• Bicyclists may use travel lanes where “Bike in Lane” signs are posted.
• A flagger will be provided for pedestrians when sidewalks are actively blocked, and at the end of each day’s operation the pedestrian facility will be reopened and unrestricted.

Motorists are reminded to use caution in the work zone and plan for minor travel delays.