The St. Georges Bridge is set to reopen Oct. 11. (Photo from Historic Bridges)

Delawareans traveling through New Castle County can expect some smoother traffic flow starting this Friday, Oct. 11.

After 18 months of closure for major repairs to the bridge deck and other features, the St. Georges Bridge is reopening at 11 a.m.

St. Georges Bridge traffic

“Before the bridge closed for this project, it carried nearly 11,000 vehicles across the canal daily on average,” said C.R. McLeod, director of community relations for the Delaware Department of Transportation.

Almost $47 million went into the project to improve the structural condition and traveling surface of the St. Georges Bridge. The contractor was J.D. Eckman, Inc.

The existing bridge deck was demolished and rebuilt into a new concrete deck with a median barrier, steel railing, fencing, expansion joints, and seals. 

Work also involved replacing the north and south approach slabs and roadways of the bridge originally built in 1941.

“Having it reopened provides another needed connection across the canal both for local traffic and as a detour route should there be an incident on one of the other area bridges causing travel delays,” McLeod said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and several legislators will hold a reopening ceremony Friday morning. 

“We’ve seen more congestion during peak travel times across the Roth Bridge since the closure and expect to see that reduced with the reopening of St. Georges,” McLeod said.

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

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Delaware State Police have arrested a man for home improvement fraud following multiple investigations.

According to police, in February 2023, detectives began investigating Frank Stiles, 51, of Millsboro for home improvement fraud.

Police said Stiles operated under multiple business names, including Heron Creek Landscaping and Pools, Premier Pools and Spas, Regal Water LLC, and Stiles Group LLC.

During the investigations, police said detectives learned that Stiles had signed contracts with sixteen victims to install in-ground swimming pools and do other outdoor construction and received over $1,500,000 in payments.

In all cases, Stile either never began or never completed these projects, police said.

Detectives obtained warrants for his arrest, and on Oct. 7, 2024, Stiles turned himself in, according to police.

Police said Stiles has been charged with seven felony counts of Theft Where Property Value is $100,000 or More, four felony counts of Theft Where Property Value is $50,000 – $100,000, Theft $1,500 or More where the Victim is 62 or Older, four felony counts of Theft by False Pretense Over $1,500, seven felony counts of Home Improvement Fraud $100,000 or More, six felony counts of Home Improvement Fraud, $50,000 – $100,000, Home Improvement Fraud where the Victim is 62 or Older, two felony counts of Home Improvement Fraud by False Pretense over $1,500, two felony counts of Home Improvement Fraud over $1,500 and two felony counts of Issuing a Bad Check Equal or Over $1,500.

Detectives are now asking anyone who may have been defrauded by Stiles in a similar manner to please contact Troop 4 Financial Crimes Unit by calling 302-856-5850.