Karl Baker

The News Journal

All northbound lanes of I-495 will close between I-95 and U.S. 13 this weekend to give road crews space to fill potholes along the highway segment near New Castle.

The closure will occur between 8 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday. It is scheduled for the weekend "to minimize the impact to the traveling public," according to a statement from the Delaware Department of Transportation. The segment again will close the following weekend from April 28 to May 1.

"For the safety of the workers and the safety of the motorists, it's just best to close it down completely," DelDOT spokesman Bud Freel said.

Detour signs will be posted on the interstate.

Cold winter months freeze roadways, often causing damage to the surfaces. Spring typically is the season to fix those scars. Last week, DelDOT crews set up daytime rolling roadblocks on I-95 around Wilmington to allow for pothole work. The weekday project, which began at 9 a.m. multiple days, delayed late-morning commuters.

Upcoming traffic delays caused by the project on I-495 are likely to occur on the I-95 northbound lanes at the two highways' southern interchange, DelDOT traffic manager Gene Donaldson said. Vehicles will be directed to detour to I-95, doubling that interstate's normal weekend traffic volume.

"That 495 traffic will have to merge over (to I-95) ... so approaching the split, you've got to start moving all three lanes of traffic over into just like two lanes, so that slows things down there," Donaldson said.

Ken Grant, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said I-495 is noticeably in disrepair. While the weekend work may cause minor inconveniences for drivers, it will not be on the scale of the monthslong closure of the I-495 bridge over the Christina River that occurred in 2014, he said.

"The impact on drivers should be minimal compared to the disruption that would be caused if the shutdown were to be scheduled during the week," Grant said.

DelDOT contractor JJID Inc. will carry out the work. The Bear-based company in January won the $4.5 million state contract to repair the Portland cement pavements along I-95, I-295 and I-495, Del. 1, Del. 7, and Del. 141.

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DelDOT this week also closed the crossover median on U.S. 13 at Port Penn Road. The median allowed drivers to access to Biddles Toll Plaza offices. It also was the primary connector for residents in the Port Penn area to travel south along U.S. 13. The right-of-way will reopen in June 2018 after the intersection is rebuilt and a traffic light installed.

Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329. Follow him on Twitter @kbaker6.