GEORGETOWN, Del. - Construction of the new Sussex County Family Court in Georgetown is now expected to be completed by fall 2025, with the opening planned for early spring 2026, according to Sean O'Sullivan, chief of community relations for Delaware Courts.
When the court broke ground in June 2022, construction was expected to be completed in 2024. Down the road, CoastTV News was told construction was expected to be completed by spring 2025.
"A lot of little things happened over the course of time that pushed this out," O'Sullivan said. "Because of COVID, there were some supply chain delays, there was occasional weather delay here and there that would put things off. Like before the envelope was complete and the building was sealed, [it] rain[ed] sometimes, where you would have to pump water out of certain areas to sort of keep the ball moving."
Across the street from the courthouse site, Harri Lopez works at Federated Auto Parts. Lopez says having a road closed due to construction adds travel time when they are making deliveries.
"It's hard to because especially when it's like, especially since we had to take the long road now, the customers expect it to be here already, and they don't get it until later on," Lopez said.
O'Sullivan said that once the outdoor construction is finished, crews will begin, hopefully in October, moving in furniture, computers, files, and staff to prepare the building for the public.
"The bulk of the exterior work is done. We're sort of now doing some interior things, like carpeting, flooring, things like that. The HVAC system is up and running. The parking garage construction is largely complete, and again, that's just now going to be more outfitting things like signage and things like that in that building," O'Sullivan said.
O'Sullivan added that they are looking forward to the new building.
"We're anxious to open this new, more secure, safe, beautiful building for folks," O'Sullivan said. "I think people are really going to be impressed by the architecture of it."
The new building will be 107,000 square feet. Inside, there will be eight large courtrooms.