IR bridge work a challenge for large boats

As construction of the Indian River Inlet bridge enters its final stages, boaters say its becoming harder to pass beneath the structure.

In response to concerns about clearance, state officials and bridge-builder Skanska USA Civil Southeast have worked out a plan to maintain as much clearance as possible. As the form travelers used to build the bridge from both sides move closer together, boats have a narrower space in which to pass, raising concerns for boat captains who travel through the inlet, said Delaware Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tina Shockley.

Several fishing tournaments are also on the schedule, attracting anglers from all over the region.

The form travelers hang about 10 feet below the bridge structure, leaving a narrow passageway for larger boats to navigate.  Two small sections of the travelers hang even lower and are marked with warning signs and lights. “Antennas from some larger boats were actually brushing the form travelers, so collectively DelDOT and boaters met to solve the problem,” Shockley said.

Skanska and DelDOT engineers are modifying construction sequencing to allow for a more navigable waterway. “We will be doing outreach to marinas and charter boats on what to expect,” Shockley said.

The vertical clearance remains at 35 feet but the clear width of the busy channel will be reduced to about 64 feet for two weeks by the end of July. During these weeks, the south form traveler will not move, Shockley said. “This will provide acceptable clearance levels for most boaters during peak fishing season,” she said.

Currently, the distance between the northside and southside form travelers is about 88 feet. The two sections of the bridge are expected to meet in the center of the inlet this fall with completion of the bridge expected by the end of the year.

By mid-August, northside form-traveler work will be completed and the traveler will be lowered onto a barge and shipped off site. The U.S. Coast Guard will assist by closing the inlet for two to five hours – or as long as needed – to lower the 300-ton traveler and move the barge. The same process will take place when the southside form traveler completes its work by early November.

Shockley said while a specific date for removing the northside traveler has not been set, DelDOT and Skanska will keep boaters informed of the construction schedule as work progresses.

In addition, work is taking place for new connector roads on both sides of the bridge. During this phase, traffic has been restricted to one lane each way across the existing bridge. Several detours are also in place.