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The depiction of sea divers swimming through erosion holes of pilings supporting the Indian River Inlet Bridge made starkly apparent the impending need to replace the highly traveled Sussex County structure.
Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Nathan Hayward III used the photos in his Jan 11 presentation to state legislators to underscore his ultimate message - that replacement plans for the bridge must be downsized but must happen immediately.
The high end archway design and azure blue lighting scheme have been stripped from the bridge plan. Hayward assured, however, that completion of the project is possible.
“It would have been a signature bridge, the first of its kind. However, we will still have a handsome, functional bridge,” Hayward said to members of the Bond Bill Committee and other interested lawmakers.
Hayward said the state will proceed with the Figgs Engineering Group of Tallahassee, Fla. for the more modest design. A cable-supported, 1,000-foot span bridge with no underwater elements is now likely. Local legislators agree the most important aspect is moving the supports out of the rushing waters.
“I’ve always been in support of a rather ‘vanilla’ style bridge, a regular, sturdy bridge,” said Sen. George H. Bunting, Jr., D-Bethany Beach, who crosses the bridge daily. Built by the federal government in 1953, the bridge is a critical link on the Eastern seaboard between Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach, hosting an average of 16,400 cars each day and thousands more in summer months. “As Secretary Hayward put it, ‘This bridge is Sussex County’s aorta,’” said Bunting
DelDOT Chief Engineer Carolann Wick explained divers are employed every six months to access the damage from forces of wind and water to the bridge support. In recent years underwater surveys have shown increasing holes in the 60 supporting piers. Experts predict the bridge is considered completely safe for seven years.
“We have seen possibly the worst Mother Nature has to offer in our country this year, “said Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. “We learn from that it is essential to make these changes now. We have some of the roughest tides on the East Coast. The bridge is integral to our public safety, our economy and our environment.”
Currently spanning 880 feet, the Indian River Inlet Bridge serves locals, commuters, tourists and scores of emergency vehicles. Any alternate route in the Cape Region is a 40-mile detour to the west.
Rep. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, said, “The most important development of this meeting is a resolve to get this bridge built now and built in a timeframe where we keep the federal funding. We cannot afford to wait one single day longer.”
The Bond Bill Committee will issue a decision after meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Bunting predicts no complications with the decision as the actual budget numbers could decrease with the modifications and federal funding is in place.
Federal funds of $114 million are secured for the estimated $200 million project. Of that amount, $62 million is exclusively designated for the Indian River Inlet Bridge, owing to efforts of Delaware’s congressional delegation.
Upon the approval of the Bond Bill Committee, DelDOT will accept bids for design-build work including the new SR-1 roadway contract; demolition of the existing structures contract; utility relocation, general light commercial building construction and landscaping associated with the improvements to the Delaware Seashore State Park. Estimated completion is 2010.
Both Bunting and Schwartzkopf said they understand statewide concern for he expenditure. Rep. Bill Oberle, R-Beecher’s Lot, has been particularly persistent with questioning the budget and timeliness of the project as the state faces tight financial times.
Schwartzkopf said, “I think Rep. Oberle has taken some unfair hits as being an opponent of the bridge. I don’t fault anyone who simply wants the best information available.
“I think we received that today and the Legislature will move forward to complete this immediately.”
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