Edwin B. Forsythe Refuge's Wildlife Drive in Galloway to Reopen Saturday

The Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge picked up a victory post-Superstorm Sandy when it announced Wildlife Drive will be reopening this weekend.

The eight-mile road was closed following the storm due to extensive damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, which hit the area Oct. 29, 2012.

Wildlife Drive officially opens on Saturday, April 6.

Tidal waves crested over the road during the storm, causing signifcant damage to infrastructure. Forsythe received $1.25 million in aid from the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief to Federally Owned Roads program toward the reconstruction of the road, which began Jan. 14.

According to Refuge Manager Virginia Rettig, over 2,000 dump truck loads of fill were used during the three-month long reconstruction, which is rapidly nearing its conclusion.

“We’re delighted to be opening the Wildlife Drive on weekends now that spring and its migrating birds are here,” Rettig said. “It won’t be long before we can open the drive every day, but there is still construction work occurring during the week.”

Wildlife Drive will be open from sunrise to sunset on weekends only, Rettig said. The Visitor Information Center is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. during the week, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends.

All admission fees have been temporarily waived while repairs are completed, Rettig said.

Wildlife Drive covers marshland and forest, and attracts over 100,000 visitors a year, Rettig said.

Updates on refuge status may be found on the refuge Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ForsytheNWR . For more information, contact the refuge at (609) 652-1665 or visit www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/ .