495 bridge killing anybody's summer?

alk

alk

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I haven't launched yet for a variety of reasons, but was thinking of spending July and August on the sassafras again, after a 2 year hiatus. But my drive down to do some engine work this morning really sucked getting thru Wilmington, with the 495 bridge closed. Thinking about jersey shore instead. Ride home this evening wasn't bad though, so not sure.

Maybe I just picked a bad time Saturday to drive down. I'm curious if anyone else has been through Wilmington this weekend, and if so how the traffic was. Looks like it's going to be a long time until they get the bridge open.
 
I drove down Saturday and 95 was at a stop due to an accident around Chichester exit. So that really isn't a fair test of the closure. I came back on Sunday around 4:00 PM and it was ptretty tied up where 495 splits from 95. once past that the 295 was REALLY backed up. Past that was fine though. Normally i come back on Monday mornings at 5:00 AM so i don't have any problems. Usually takes me 2:20 to Bucks County. Coming home took me about 3 hours this time.
Keith
 
Made a trip to Bucks County on Monday. Left Still Pond around 11:00 AM and had no issues. Made the return on Tuesday, leaving Bucks County around 10:00 AM. Only issue was increased truck traffic through the Wilmington stretch of 95. I need to be in Norristown tomorrow at noon for a deposition so I plan on leaving here at 9:30 AM. Hope to be on the road before the Friday afternoon traffic starts.
 
As somebody that takes that road at least five or six times a week: It is going to hurt. No doubt. You can look at the upside and that is you will have less congestion heading southbound in Churchman's Marsh and less heading northbound at the Commodore Berry because at both of those points the road is unchanged and you have three less lanes feeding it.

But the bottom line is you have to plan on adding an extra 30min through Wilmington because people aren't used to the detour and the fact remains you now have less than 40% of the capacity you had before. I've done it early, late and through rush hour. Rush hour is a mess. The other times you can hit it right with no problem, but I've seen to see one problem or another more often than not. For instance right now according to Google Maps (which I find accurate) Southbound is awful and northbound is only slow in the city of Wilmington.
 
Yeah, today was pretty much a disaster down and back, at least an extra hour behind the wheel.
 
I'm heading through there to Nags Head in a couple of weeks. I'm debating on leaving Friday evening or Saturday morning. I figure it's a toss up.
 
Going north last Friday around 10:30 AM, no problem. Came south that same day at 2:00 PM and it crawled through Wilmington. Glad I don't have to make that trip often and can run my own schedule but feeling bad for my kids and grandkids who plan on coming down for the July 4 holiday long weekend.
 
I'm glad I miss this by taking the Del Memorial Bridge.
Heading down Tuesday moring.
Bill
 
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