The Mispillion River drawbridge on Rehoboth Boulevard in Milford will reopen to both vehicle and boat traffic Friday afternoon, according to Delaware Department of Transportation spokesman C.R. McLeod.
It’s been a long time coming for many. The historic bridge was first impaired in December 2021, when an oversized truck struck the top portion and damaged the mechanical system. It remained open to traffic but could no longer open for boaters.
That left boats in the river west of the bridge stuck there. In 2022, a group of those boat owners, including Joan and Sudler Lofland, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation. They claimed they were losing money because their boats couldn’t access the Delaware Bay and asked for the Chancery Court to force the department to make repairs to the bridge.
Background:A damaged drawbridge is keeping crabbers and boaters from the Delaware Bay
The lawsuit is still active but has not yet gone to trial, McLeod said.
The bridge was damaged again in December 2022, and DelDOT finally closed the bridge Feb. 6 of this year to make repairs. Work was originally expected to be completed by April but was delayed.
Opening the Mispillion River drawbridge requires 24 hours’ notice. Requests can be made by contacting the DelDOT Traffic Management Center at 302-659-4600.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught
