SLAUGHTER BEACH, Del.- Brand new changes are coming to one of the roads to get to Slaughter Beach.
On Tuesday, DelDOT held a public workshop to get the public's feedback on the Cedar Beach Road Bridge replacement.
DelDOT says this is one of its most active movable bridges, and because corrosion has prompted constant maintenance, the entire bridge must be replaced.
The flooding in the area has taken a toll on the structure.
"We have determined this bridge is at the end of its usable life and needs replacement,” said DelDOT community relations director, C.R. McLeod.
DelDOT says the current bridge is still safe to drive on...but others would rather be safe than sorry.
"I don't like riding over unsafe bridges … Just like any other bridge in America needs to be fixed, about 50 percent of the bridges in this country are bad. I know this because my father was a bridge builder,” said Mike Weller.
McLeod says the biggest impact to the community will be the road's year long closure … where people will have to take a 20 minute detour.
"Seems a little long but once again I am not against it ... it will be beneficial, especially for the residents of the area,” said Greg Sutton.
The proposed designs for the new bridge, have a more modern feel, and will cost close to $30 million.
"So this will be a very large investment that we're making to preserve access to the Slaughter Beach area for many many years to come,” said McLeod.
Comments on the project are still being accepted. You can mail them or submit them in this online survey.
The bridge will have a 75 year life-span, the operating equipment will be built above the floodplain, open views of the creek, plus… "a 5 foot multi bike lane in each direction over the bridge. The biking community continues to grow in Delaware, multi-modal transportation is something we are really focused on,” said McLeod.
Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and be complete by 2024.