Portion of Silver Lake Road in Middletown closed through June
Ben Mace
Several school bus routes have been changed and some residents have to find a new route to shopping centers after a portion of Silver Lake Road in Middletown closed Feb. 3.
The construction project is scheduled to last until June 25, pending weather, on the road that connects East Main Street (Route 299) near Middletown High School and Acme with Noxontown Road near St. Andrew's School.
The Delaware Department of Transportation project includes repairs to the spillway and bridge at Silver Lake dam, according to Craig Stevens, DelDOT section head for bridge design.
"The dam itself is in good condition," Stevens said.
The problem is with the spillway gates that can be opened or closed to regulate the flow of water.
"These gates ended up failing due to deterioration and age," Stevens said. "To combat this, we placed a coffer dam with sheet piles in order to control the outflow and keep the pond level at the appropriate level."
During the project, the old gates will be replaced, the sheet piles will be removed, and repairs will be made to the spillway and bridge including a new bridge deck and railings.
The estimated construction cost is $1,034,000.
Residents on the road will have access to their homes at all times, but may need to take the posted detour routes.
The project has caused minor changes to about eight bus routes in the Appoquinimink School District, said district transportation supervisor Stacey McIntosh.
"The closure of Silver Lake Road has not impacted our bus routes a great deal. We have had to re-route some, but not more than 10 minutes," McIntosh said.
Detours
Drivers westbound on Noxontown Road trying to get to the northern side of Silver Lake Road should continue straight past Silver Lake Road, turn right onto Route 71/Summit Bridge Road, turn right onto Main Street/Route 299 and right onto Silver Lake Road.
Drivers on Route 299/Main Street trying to get to the southern side of Silver Lake Road should take Route 299/Main Street west, turn left onto Broad Street, turn left onto Noxontown Road and left onto Silver Lake Road.
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