Indian River Inlet Bridge Northside Form Traveler Lowered and Removed

Indian River -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that the northside form traveler was successfully removed from the Indian River Inlet Bridge early this morning. The form travelers (one on each side of the inlet) are partially suspended beneath the new bridge and are used to build the bridge deck portions over the inlet. The northside of the new bridge is completely formed. Removal of the northside form traveler will provide additional clearance through the channel for mariners.

Plans for the removal of the form traveler began last week with the form traveler being partially lowered and moved approximately 21 feet backwards towards the north. On Sunday, August 14, preparations for the final lowering and removal of the north side traveler occurred with the lowering of the northside traveler onto a barge. The lowering required the temporary closure of the entire Indian River Inlet waterway to allow for the safe removal of the 300 ton form system. This activity was closely coordinated with and assisted by the United States Coast Guard. The waterway closure occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 15, in an effort to lessen the impact on daytime mariners.

The operation went as planned, and the northside form traveler is now being shipped offsite to Norfolk, Virginia. The form traveler will be recycled, as it was designed specifically for the Indian River Inlet Bridge project and cannot be used on any other construction project.

The southside traveler will now be used to form up the remaining four sections of concrete for the bridge deck. This work will continue until the final closure pour is done in late October/early November. Once that work is complete, a similar lowering and removal operation will occur for the southside form traveler.

The bridge project is still expected to be completed in December 2011.