This Delaware bridge and road raising plan receives $15 million grant for flood problems

What's the cost of climate change? About $23 million for just one project in Delaware.

That's the estimate for a new bridge and road in a flood-prone area on Route 9 east of Townsend, but the state has received a big chunk of those funds from the federal government.

As part of a grant program to address climate change problems, the U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $15 million to replace Taylor's Bridge over Blackbird Creek and raise the road on both sides leading up to the bridge. The program includes $830 million for 80 projects across the country.

Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Nicole Majeski thanked Delaware’s congressional delegation for advocating for the funds.

“As we see more frequent flooding occurring in this area, the existing 60-year-old bridge structure on the Delaware Bayshore Byway is in need of replacing to maintain road access,” Majeski said. 

DelDOT has designated $8 million for the project in addition to the $15 million in federal funds.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in early 2026, said C.R. McLeod, DelDOT director of community relations.

“Exact timing and length of construction will be determined once the project is bid and awarded,” McLeod said.

What do we get for $23 million?

The plan includes reducing the number of vertical support structures or “piers” from nine to three to improve water flow under the bridge, expanding road shoulders, widening sidewalks and installing retaining walls to reduce wetlands impacts.

The new bridge will have a 440-foot, four-span precast concrete superstructure supported by reinforced concrete piers and abutments with steel sheet pile walls on the approach roads.

The project is designed to withstand the effects of a 3-foot sea level rise, which will require raising Route 9 at the bridge and along 2,100 feet of road.

Representative and senators talk about reasons for the project

Delaware's U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced the grant April 10.   

The project will help “to preserve access that is gradually diminishing as sea level rise overtakes the road and disrupts travel,” according to their press release.

“Delaware is the lowest-lying state, so we see first-hand the impacts of climate change, particularly when communities are cut off due to flooding,” Carper said. “But it’s not enough just to address the problems, we must also continue to address the symptoms of climate change.”

Recent weather news:Where did Delaware get hit in Tuesday's storm? See some of the aftermath across the state

Coons said Delaware regularly faces climate-related challenges.

“We must work to reduce the impact weather events will have on our state and our world while there is still time to do so,” he said.

Blunt Rochester said the project “represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient future for Delawareans."

Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.