Melissa Nann Burke

The News Journal

WILMINGTON – A month ahead of schedule, commuters returned to the southbound lanes of the I-495 bridge during Thursday's rush hour, honking, cheering and flashing thumbs up out their windows.

"I was one of the first group to cross. So happy," Denise Ludwig Cole posted on the Delawareonline Facebook page. "Thanks to all the hard work done to get it open."

It had been 59 days since the Delaware Department of Transportation shut down I-495 between Exits 2 and 3, after travel lanes began tipping precariously. That stretch of highway had carried an average 90,000 vehicles a day.

The first motorists rolled over the bridge around 4:50 p.m. The northbound span, which sustained heavier damage, is expected to open by Sept. 1. Permanent repairs will follow.

"There is still a lot of hard work to do to fully reopen this bridge, but we've reached an important milestone in the effort to safely complete repairs as quickly as possible," said Gov. Jack Markell, who spoke to reporters shortly before the opening.

"I want to thank all the drivers for your patience, and all the Wilmington residents for your patience, as well."

Markell expressed thanks to all the laborers, inspectors and contractors who continue to work around the clock on the $35 million repair project.

"We can only celebrate for about 15 seconds, because the next job is to get northbound open," said engineer Gregory D. Burkhart, vice president of construction contractor J.D. Eckman Inc.

Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt emphasized that the speed of the emergency repairs did not compromise public safety.

Engineers for DelDOT, its contractors and the Federal Highway Administration gave the OK to reopen the span only after a successful load test involving six fully loaded DelDOT trucks that came to a hard stop over the newly braced piers. Sensors remain on key supports to alert engineers to any abnormal movement, Bhatt said.

"We want the public to know that we've taken every possible step to know this is safe," Bhatt said. "We still have people working under the bridge, so we'll be monitoring it 24-7."

Crews might need to close the southbound lanes periodically for tweaks or other adjustments over the next few weeks, but only for short periods during off-peak hours or on weekends, Bhatt said. "People shouldn't be alarmed if they see that," he added.

Bhatt had joked with top engineers and contractors about how great it would be to reopen in July – even better – by his 39th birthday, which was Wednesday. Workers wished Bhatt well with a framed photograph of the bridge they had signed, and a cake complete with birthday candles – one of which was purposely tilted out of alignment (a little engineering humor).

Officials closed the bridge June 2 after finding key support columns tipping as much as 4 degrees. Engineers have blamed the problem on 50,000 tons of soil stockpiled next to piers between Christiana Avenue and the Christina River.

Crews built a new foundation beneath the weakened section of the bridge, drilling four shafts up to 140 feet deep around each of eight damaged piers, straddling the damaged pilings below.

The last, critical phase for the travel lanes before reopening was the jacking the southbound deck, bracing it and securing it in place. Replacement of the two most-damaged sets of bridge supports will occur after the roadway reopens, with temporary beams and towers holding up the spans during the remainder of construction.

Prior to the lanes reopening, DelDOT alerted the truckers association, the I-95 Corridor Coalition and neighboring state transportation departments to spread the news.

State Rep. James "J.J." Johnson said the reopening is a huge relief for his district, which was inundated by heavy truck traffic and other vehicles diverted from the highway. He was surprised but grateful about the news.

"I think the citizens have been through enough, and if we can show them any type of relief at all, we should do it," Johnson said.

Reporter Jon Offredo contributed to this story.

Contact Melissa Nann Burke at (302) 324-2329, mburke@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @nannburke.