I-495, the interstate bypass of Wilmington, Delaware is
closed down now due to a very problematic bridge (story here).
Since I have occasion to travel on this road frequently (the
last time being the morning of the day the bridge problem was discovered and
the road closed!), I can sympathize with DelDOT’s challenge in getting this
heavily traveled roadway (90,000 AADT) back into service.
Fortunately, there are alternatives: I-95 through downtown Wilmington,
the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295 (also on the New Jersey side of the river), and
lesser roads. Amtrak and SEPTA
also provide excellent service through the area for trips that can be switched
to rail. The trick is to keep
travelers informed and direct them to alternatives. The I-495 problem is a reminder of the importance of
redundancy in our systems – not just for natural calamities, but also for
all-too-common infrastructure failures.
Good luck to Shailen Bhatt and his team in getting through
this!
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