SPONSOR:

Sen. Bunting ;

Reps. Price, Schroeder

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

141st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO IMMEDIATELY UNDERTAKE THE DESIGN AND PLANNING PHASES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BRIDGE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING INDIAN RIVER INLET BRIDGE AND TO PREPARE A LONG TERM PLAN FOR THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW BRIDGE.

WHEREAS, the service that the Indian River inlet Bridge provides to the area of southeastern Sussex County is invaluable and must be insured to be readily maintained; and

WHEREAS, although the current bridge has served the area well for over thirty-five years, during this time the physical makeup of the inlet has dramatically changed; and

WHEREAS, the current bridge was built with reference to, and to meet the needs of, the inlet as it existed more than thirty-five years ago; and

WHEREAS, recent examination of the bridge has shown that its overall piling and support structure are threatened by holes of over one hundred feet in depth on the inlet bottom near the bridge's support pilings as the result of scouring; and

WHEREAS, responsibly, the General Assembly must act now and begin the process of bridge replacement by requiring the Department of Transportation to design and plan for the construction of a new bridge that will be certain to address the new and deeper physical makeup of the inlet; and

WHEREAS, undertaking the design and planning phases now will ensure that this vital access for crossing the Indian River Inlet will remain for the future;

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 141^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives thereof joining therein and with the approval of the Governor, that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation is hereby directed to take immediate and appropriate steps to undertake the design and planning phases for the construction of a new "clear-span" bridge crossing the Indian River Inlet and to prepare a long term plan for the preventative maintenance of said bridge; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in carrying out the mandates of this Joint Resolution, the Secretary of Transportation shall contact and work with Delaware's delegation to the United States Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and any other federal agency or instrumentality that may be able to offer advice or assistance in this matter.

SYNOPSIS

This Joint Resolution requires the Secretary of Transportation to take immediate an appropriate action to replace the Indian River Inlet Bridge and to prepare a long term plan for the preventative maintenance of the new bridge.

Author: Senator Bunting