In response to over 70 incidents of overweight vehicles striking the bridge along Casho Mill Road in Newark, DE over the past decade, Delaware Department of Transportation took action to improve safety and implemented an overhead deterrent to alert drivers that the bridge is too low to safely pass under. The $400,000 project brought a series of “clankers” in conjunction with dynamic warning systems that included signage and flashing lights. If a vehicle is too tall to pass under the bridge, it will strike the clankers (or rubber balls), prompting the driver to turn around. The installation of clankers serves as a short-term solution that allows Casho Mill Road to remain open for city residents, local commuters, and emergency personnel. This approach addresses concerns about the use of longer alternate routes, which could have negative consequences for multiple communities and disrupt traffic flow between rural Maryland and Pennsylvania. The new clankers significantly enhance safety, reliability, and convenience for the nearly 15,000 vehicles that travel this commuter route each day. Moreover, they reduce the potential for serious injuries, fatalities, and disruptions to local commerce. By keeping the bridge open and implementing the clankers, DelDOT ensures that the needs of the community are met while maintaining a strong focus on safety.
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