Bunting: Study Delaware Bay bridge-tunnel
Sen. George Bunting wants state officials to investigate the feasibility of building a bridge-tunnel from a point in Sussex County to New Jersey.
Senate Resolution 21 states the economic benefit of the bridge tunnel could be substantial to Delaware and surrounding states, including New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. The resolution was introduced in the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee June 13. Bunting, who is stepping down when his term expires at the end of this year, is the sole sponsor.
Bunting said the project could be modeled after the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which was completed using private funds in 1964. A large, public-works project like a new bridge tunnel would be something that could capture national attention, Bunting said.
"With a vice president, this might be something the president would be interested in," Bunting said. He did not propose a specific site for the bridge-tunnel, saying the location would be part of the feasibility study.
The resolution calls on state agencies to investigate whether the project would benefit Delaware. Delaware Department of Transportation officials talked to Bunting last week to gain perspective on the scope of the project.
"It's also something I hope the state would work on with University of Delaware engineers because it would be a huge public works project," Bunting said.
Geoff Sundstrom, director of public relations for DelDOT said the project would be the first of its kind, especially if it was privately funded as Bunting suggested. No other bridge projects in the state have received private funding, said Sundstrom.
"It's an intriguing idea. I believe it's been proposed before, but any actual decision to move forward with a project that ambitious would need significant funding and would require active participation with the state of New Jersey," he said.
"We could run into practicality issues that would have to be addressed such as forming a working relationship with New Jersey. Other issues could include determining the scope and cost of such a project," Sundstrom said. "This would not be a project just for this state; it would also affect New Jersey, so that would have to be considered."
In addition to the 17-mile expanse of bridges and tunnels under the shipping lanes, Bunting also envisions vertical windmills, so the project would produce energy.
The resolution states the project would "help to relieve the enormous traffic congestion that exists at times along the Interstate 95 corridor, likely saving millions of dollars annually in fuel and other economic costs."
Bunting said he has already received a few emails in support of the project. He said he would be interested in working on this project and others he started while in the Senate as a private citizen.
"I am interested to hear the pros and cons about the project," Bunting said. "It would make the trip quicker and easier for vacationers from here and from New Jersey."
