Rescheduled-- Indian River Inlet Bridge Open House And Site Tour

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Rehoboth Beach -- The Delaware Department of Transportation and Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc. (Skanska) announce that the Public Workshop previously planned for October 17, 2009 has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2009.

The public is invited to attend an outdoor "open house" style public workshop and participate in a construction site tour at the Indian River Inlet Bridge on Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will be held in the parking lot directly across from the DelDOT Field Office, 39368 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach, on the north side of the inlet. The event will be held rain or shine. If severe weather occurs which may cause the event to be canceled, information will be posted at www.irib.deldot.gov. Attendees are encouraged to visit the site if the weather is uncertain.

Secretary Carolann Wicks encourages everyone to visit the site to see firsthand the construction progress being made. She also notes that it is also an excellent opportunity to talk directly with the DelDOT Project Team and the bridge builders.

The workshop will consist of at least a dozen informational stations where the public can receive specific information about various aspects of the bridge construction. Information will be available about the design-build process, pile drivings and use of concrete, the pylon forms including reinforced steel, the falsework structure, the stay cable erection system, the traveler, the approach spans of the bridge, and the final features of the bridge and their functionality. Many of these informational stations will include visual examples of the different elements of bridge construction.

Representatives from the University of Delaware will be onsite to discuss the monitoring capabilities of the new bridge. Information about the roadway approaches and park improvement contracts will also be available. Several bridge designers, engineers and specialists will be on hand to discuss the bridge's construction.

A highlight of the event will be the opportunity to participate in a construction site tour. A bus will be available to take workshop attendees on a guided and narrated tour of the construction site.

The public is invited to come to the workshop any time between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and there will also be an opportunity to provide written comment on the construction to date.

This location is accessible to persons having disabilities. Any person having special needs or requiring special aid, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, is requested to contact DelDOT by phone or mail one week in advance.