NEW CASTLE, Del. — Improvements are planned this year for the North Cape May terminal of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
Commissioners overseeing the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) have adopted the agency’s 2026 capital improvement program along with a five-year strategic plan for the agency’s airports and crossing facilities.
According to a news release, the $161.76 million plan is comprised of $134.343 million in DRBA resources and $27.417 million in federal, state and local grant funds.
“The authority is responsible for vital transportation services that connect people and places in the heart of the northeast corridor,” Vince Meconi, chief operations officer for the DRBA, stated in the release. “Millions of people rely on our transportation services, and the implementation of this five-year (capital Improvement program) will ensure that our customers continue to experience them safely and efficiently.”
The strategic plan contains more than 125 projects that include major capital improvement, minor capital maintenance, minor capital equipment purchases and automation/telecom upgrades at the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the Wilmington Airport, the Millville Executive Airport, the Cape May County Airport, the Delaware Air Park and the Civil Air Terminal, and serves as a planning tool for long-term infrastructure needs and resource allocation.
The complete plan is available at drba.net.
The following projects are planned for North Cape May:
— New vessel construction: Due to the age of the existing fleet, programing the construction of new vessels is necessary. This project programs the construction of the first new vessel. This project has an estimated cost of $71 million over the next five years, with federal grants funding about $25.7 million.
— Annual vessel maintenance and dry docking: The project programs annual capital expenditures for the three vessels, particularly in areas that preserve these assets and improve passenger safety and operational reliability. Planned projects include but are not limited to: vessel shipyard dry dockings, purchase of life saving equipment, seating replacements, systems efficiency upgrades, generator overhauls and miscellaneous improvements. This project has an estimated DRBA cost of $57 million over the next five years.
— Beach Drive improvements: Pavements along Beach Drive are deteriorating and improvements are necessary. The project proposes the design and construction of improvements for Beach Drive, including replacement of utilities and highway signage. This project has an estimated DRBA cost of $1.3 million.
— Cape May terminal utility corridor: This is the first phase of implementing the Cape May Master Plan and addresses the aging utility infrastructure. The project proposes the design and installation of a new centralized utility corridor that will allow for easier access and maintenance. This project has an estimated cost of $15.4 million this year and next. The project is partially funded with about $2.7 million in grant funding administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
— Cape May approach roads rehabilitation: Pavements at the toll approach are deteriorating and improvements are necessary to maintain expected levels of service at the North Cape May terminal. The project proposes the design and construction for roadway reconfigurations at the terminal entrance, improvements to the approach roads, and the replacement of highway signage. This project has an estimated cost of $9 million over the next two years, with about $3.8 million in grant funding administered by the NJDOT.
