Mercer Co. - The replacement project for the New Castle-Mercer Road Bridge in Wilmington Township is set to begin on Monday.

The 110-year old bridge that carries New Castle-Mercer Road (Route 2001) is located between Rodgers Road and Indian Run Road.

The project will include removing the existing bridge and construction of a prestressed concrete spread box beam bridge.

Work will include new roadway approaches and guiderail updates.

The project will require a detour, which will be posted using Route 208, Route 19, and Old Mercer Road (Route 1005) and is expected to be in place for nine weeks.

The new bridge is expected to be opened in July 2020.

The existing bridge was built in 1910, and is classified as poor condition.

Approximately 825 vehicles a day use the bridge, on average.

The contract for the new bridge cost $532,374.35, which is to be paid with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.

Work on this project will be in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings and personal and job-site cleaning protocols.