LEWES & REHOBOTH CANAL BRIDGES

LEWES – REHOBOTH CANAL

AND BRIDGES

2018 REPORT

The Sunday, January 7, 2018, Salisbury Daily Times news article

reports work is to begin this spring on the two canal bridges of Lewes

and Rehoboth.

A 1910 federal allocation of $356,000 by Congress to build the Lewes Rehoboth Canal, included money to construct bridges in both towns.

In 1916 when the canal was complete the bridges in Rehoboth and Lewes were also in place. Both were “ bascule “ design, meaning draw spans for tall boat passage. As of 2018 both bridges have been replaced twice, and both replacements are over 40 years old, and due for a makeover which will begin in the spring of 2018, but you probable did not see much activity until the fall or late summer.

The 1910 intent for the canal to allow shipment of cargo's like coal, timber, grain , vegetables, canned foods, fish and livestock, did not prove itself. Highways and truck's saw to that with faster and cheaper rates.

The 10 mile canal is now used for pleasure boats, fishing charter boats, rearch and a water taxi.

At one time there was need of a 'tender' to raise and lower the draw,

however, now the draw is used maybe 20 times a year and ship must make

arrangements in advance. The necessity of a bridge to cross the canal has

remained.

The current Rehoboth bridge, the latest design in engineering, was built in 1986 according to Rehoboth Museum records, and a temporary bridge was built to cross the canal during the construction.

The Lewes bridge has a bit more history. It was originally at Rehoboth's “Forgotten Mile” route 1. The road to it was widened, the old bridge dismantled and replaced by a wider span bridge. DelDot said it would be a great bridge to replace the one at Lewes, but how to get it to Lewes. Loaded on a barge, taken to Lewes, the two bridges opened

about the same date.

Abstract: January 7, 2019 from Salisbury Daily Times, January 7, 2018