Delaware group finds temporary resting place to preserve historic swing bridge

LEWES, Del. – A group in Delaware working to save the swing bridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal may have found a temporary home for the historic structure. Officials say DelDot needs to remove the bridge, due to issues with the settlement of its supporting structures in the canal. Members of the Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association say they’ve been trying to preserve the bridge that’s been in Lewes since 1916. Members say they’ve found a temporary resting place for the swing bridge to stay right next to where it was originally built. They add that the property owner is allowing them to keep the historical piece on his property for up to 5 years until the group finds a final resting place.

“It’s served the people of Lewes ably and well for over 100 years and now it needs our help and so our association has risen to the cars to help preserve it and so we can tell the story of railroading in Lewis and eastern Sussex County and how important railroading was Including this little bridge for the last 150 years,” said Secretary for the Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association, Gary Wray.

Officials say construction on the bridge is expected to begin in the spring.