The routes in and out of Delaware’s busiest courthouse in Wilmington are changing.
The main parking garage connected to the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center on King Street will only be accessible through Walnut Street starting April 22 through late June, according to a press release from the courts.
The regular entrance to the garage will be closed as the courthouse addresses drainage issues at the building.
Pedestrians will be allowed access to the parking garage on the King Street side, but cars must be routed through Walnut Street, according to the courts.
Additionally, the primary exit from the courthouse will be closed and visitors will be directed to leave from the main entrance of the building off King Street.
The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington, formerly the New Castle County Courthouse.
Ongoing traffic changes
The drainage work coincides with another large construction project directly next door to the main courthouse.
The state is repurposing a historic courthouse building known as the Custom House that sits on King Street in downtown Wilmington next to the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center.
Renovations to that property have closed the left lane of King Street between Seventh and Fifth streets in front of the courthouse in recent months.
A small loop road known as Alico Road, which previously served as the entrance to the parking garage and enters and exits from King Street, has been closed permanently. A small portion of it has been used as an entrance to the parking garage and is closing with the drainage work starting next week.
Diagrams, more information and updates on when specific closures will occur can be found on the court’s website: Traffic Alert – Delaware Courts – State of Delaware.
Customs House construction
The renovation of the historic Customs House building is well underway beside the courthouse.
Nearly 170 years ago, the building was a one-stop shop for federal government needs. The two-story block-shaped building was a post office, a customs and U.S. Marshal’s outpost, as well as the first federal courthouse in the state.
Renderings show the planned renovation of the 1855 Customs House for future use by state court officials.
For years, the building has sat unused and in decay. But now, state officials will return it to use by the courts as a new office center for the state’s Supreme Court and state court administrative staff, as well as a community legal resource center for the public.
The goal is to have the new building complete and those employees relocated in 2026. The project is estimated to cost $76.7 million.
Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington courthouse construction, traffic changes: What to know