DelDOT Celebrates Final Stages Of Bridge Construction With Displays And Time Capsule

Public Invited To Provide Suggestions For Time Capsule Items

Dover -- As the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) prepares to celebrate the opening of the new Indian River Inlet Bridge (IRIB) in January 2012, it announces that its partnering with the Division of Cultural Affairs to create two displays that tell the story of Delaware's the Indian River Inlet, including the archaeology, environmental impacts, history of bridges in this area, as well as attributes of the new bridge. These displays showcase the complex task of bridge building, as well as celebrating the near completion of one of Delaware's most iconic bridges.

The first display will be located in an enclosed case at the I-95 Visitor Center, 530 John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Newark, throughout 2012, and will consist of actual materials used in the construction of the bridge including concrete components, stay cable strands and tubing, rebar, sand, etc.

The second display is made up of five panels that are 4 feet wide x 8 foot high each. These panels depict the history, environment, archaeology and an overview of features of the new bridge. The five-panel display will be available for public viewing at the following locations and times:

December 2011 - April 2012: Smyrna Rest Area, 5500 South DuPont Highway, Smyrna
May - September 2012: Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes
October - December 2012: DelDOT South District Administration Building, 23697 South DuPont Highway, Georgetown

As a part of the bridge's dedication ceremony planned for spring 2012, items for a historical time capsule are being put together. DelDOT is seeking suggestions from the general public for a specific Delaware item they believe should be placed in the time capsule. The suggested item should represent life in the First State as the bridge is completed. Citizens are invited to submit suggestions in writing when visiting the IRIB Historical Display at the Smyrna Rest Area. Suggestions will be accepted at this location only, between December 19, 2011 and January 15, 2012.

If unable to visit one of the displays, DelDOT encourages you to visit its project website, www.irib.deldot.gov, under "Education", and click on "Historical Display" to view a web version. Due to the significance of the IRIB project, this website (www.irib.deldot.gov) will remain accessible indefinitely.