officially cable stayed bridge located delaware united_states carries lanes atlantic_ocean bridge maintained bridge feet long feet wide span feet overhead clearance feet prior current bridge bridges spanned opened widened additional span added known informally officially named bridge steel bridge subject inlet leading need replace initial plans tied arch bridge inlet budget plans foot meter cable stayed bridge cancelled early construction legal problems construction current foot meter bridge began design build project awarded contract build bridge current opened partially january completely cost million description crosses connecting atlantic_ocean east west bridge located carries north south carries foot meter lanes traffic northbound southbound foot meter interior foot meter exterior shoulder direction foot meter east bridge pedestrians cable stayed bridge consisting towers stays supporting bridge located land order avoid erosion inlet bridge total length feet total width feet span bridge feet overhead clearance feet height towers feet sea level bridge fiber system monitors issues affect structural integrity bridge designed years officially named bridge fourth named honor july july lawyer judge georgetown served chairman time oversaw construction second bridge span replacing timber bridge bridge dedicated popularly known bridge dedication plaque located pedestrian entrance south end bridge reads follows bridge named honor remembrance man dedicated life public service citizens delaware served eventually elevated chairman commission chairman work started new bridge span recognition service commission bridge dedicated advocacy proper opening inlet internal development additional bridges bearing spanned inlet time fifth bridge span inlet dedicated bridge serves public let forget lifetime service gave history increase private automobile ownership growing popularity delaware beach resort towns half 20th century led delaware construct present day known coastal highway completed ocean highway lacked link carry natural shifted mile stretch coast kept inlet open current location built hold place inlet fixed place possible build bridge span completion ocean highway prompted delaware build span connect northern southern segments highway earlier bridges bridges constructed timber bridge built deteriorated quickly maritime environment prevailing inlet replaced concrete steel swing bridge named construction began swing bridge included foot meter pedestrian walkway cost opened dedication ceremony collapsed february combination high tide combined easterly wind ice flows deeply inlet piers truck bridge time collapse fell inlet killing men drowned inside truck concrete steel swing bridge completed second named structurally ice flow closed storm damage bridge constructed site foot meter steel bridge named span opened widened addition second span slightly west newer span carrying southbound traffic older span way northbound span opened inlet feet meters deep inlet currents led piers bridge noticed 1980s late 1980s severe allow divers swim beneath span concrete corps installed protective bridge piers temporary solution realizing bridge compromised damage severe storm delaware officials listed structurally requiring replacement increased inlet depth feet meters leading delaware officials question stability protective reports gave bridge expected lifespan years estimated closed collapse bridge carried cars average day average cars day summer months disruption traffic bridge closed replacement open increasing concern current bridge early plans problems august delaware officials unveiled plans public workshop new bridge replace bridge addition tied arch design spanning inlet slightly west addition bridge new bridge longest arched span world length feet meters estimated cost million new bridge piers water avoiding problems plagued earlier spans delaware officials hoped work begin autumn completed years later tied arch design construction contract bid came higher expected afford time autumn million state transportation budget delayed construction projects delaware forced state plans new bridge hold meantime rising labor materials costs drove cost bridge million million budget scrapped plans tied arch bridge bids design build project new bridge cable stayed design feet meters long piers water construction approach ramps new bridge began inlet february ramp north inlet completed december south finished february concerns instability ramps arose autumn march clear movement ramps greater expected legal problems began affect progress unsuccessful new construction contract questioned process awarded company bid million lowest bid nonetheless won contract based ambiguous technical criteria labor union leaders complained winning promised use delaware union labor unlike lower faced possibility lawsuit october decided cancel construction bridge existing contract unstable approach ramps removed contract longer foot meter cable stayed bridge piers water new design require flawed approach ramps approach ramps removed delaware legislature new bond bill making easier state officials award bid technical criteria construction august awarded million design build contract build new bridge started driving test ground later public voting aesthetic design features bridge decided cables blue tops lighting fixtures walkway nautical theme test bridge completed june construction began july pouring concrete december construction begun approach foundations edge work continuing towers completion design phase project beginning concrete pour bridge deck took place april bridge received million federal funding pedestrian bike paths time new halfway complete january filed lawsuit bridge design firm engineering consulting errors february awarded million contract build approach roads new demolish old bridge minor fire occurred north bridge construction site damage reported bridge structure north bridge finished august form travelers removed people employed construction bridge new opened southbound traffic january delaware governor senator secretary rode car bridge january northbound lane new bridge opened officially dedicated public ceremony visitors able walk bridge remaining lanes lane bridge pedestrian bicycle walkway opened day demolition bridge addition began spring completed spring
Indian River Inlet Bridge