6/18/2012 De-Construction of a Bridge

Everybody around here talks about the bridge. Its no wonder really as this bridge has been in the construction stage for….what seems forever.

A little background is in order here. First, here is a picture of the old bridge (right) and the new bridge in early construction stages. (no I didn’t take this picture, someone flying in a helicopter took this and I don’t know who or I would give credit)

Another view looking from the ocean side towards the bay. It’s fuzzy but you can see the campground we’re in on the left above the bridge approach.

The old bridge sits on cement piers which have now fallen victim to the strong currents which led to scouring. Bridge scour is the removal of sediment such as sand and rocks from around bridge piers. Scour, can scoop out scour holes, compromising the integrity of the structure. It is the leading cause of bridge failure in this country.

Our new bridge is the 5th that has been built across this fast moving inlet. The first was a timber bridge built in 1934. It didn’t last long, only four years and it was replaced by a concrete and steel swing bridge in 1938. This swing bridge was destroyed by ice and tides in 1948, with another swing bridge completed in 1952. The next bridge to be constructed was a steel girder bridge that was built in 1965 and the one being replaced now.

The planning for this new bridge started in 2004. One bridge design was completed but was found to be $50,000,000.00 over budget so it was back to the drawing board. Finally in 2009 the first pilings were driven and the new bridge was completed in earlier this year. At first, two southbound lanes were opened in January and on May 6th the bridge was dedicated and all lanes were operating. The actual name of the bridge is the Charles W. Cullen Bridge named after a Delawarean who lived in the 1800’s and did something or other but I don’t have a clue what and if the truth be told, I don’t care. It will always and forever be the Indian Inlet Bridge to all except for maybe some direct descendants of good ol’ Charlie Cullen.

The ground work around the bridge isn’t completed yet but they are working feverishly to get it done by 4th of July. We hope they do as it will save us from driving south to make a U-turn so that we can go north over the bridge. The entrance ramps for northbound traffic is the last thing to be done so that the bridge is fully functional.

So this brings us up to today where the focus is on taking the old bridge down. And believe me, if you are staying in the Delaware State Seashore Park campground, you ARE talking about it. In all likelihood you are not happy about it either.

I walked over to the rail this evening to see what the fisherman were catching and because I heard the bridge action would start around eight.

I was told flounder were being caught but the only thing I saw was this spider crab that got tangled up in someone’s fishing line‘

Here’s a picture of the rail that separates the fisherman who stand on the sidewalk from the rocks and water. You can also see both bridges, the new one just a bit higher than the old one.

Several fisherman fishing from the rocks.

I moved up closer to the bridge.

This tugboat is pushing a barge under the bridge so that it can catch pieces of cement as it falls.

The current is so swift here that this tugboat is having a hard time getting this barge to the bridge.

Finally in place but struggling to keep it there.

The cement is being stripped away one lane at a time. I walked under the old bridge and I could see sky where I would normally see the underside.

This piece of machinery is a huge jackhammer.

You’ve all heard a jackhammer break up a sidewalk or some other cement platform. Remember how loud it is? This is that sound amplified times a thousand. It is so incredibly loud. Now the worst part, they do this at nighttime. ALL. NIGHT. LONG.

Yes, campers have left, some have transferred to other parks within the park system, others have just complained loudly. What are camp hosts supposed to do about this???

This second machine, on the left, has a huge clamshell bucket on it and it picks up the large pieces of broken cement for the bulldozer with a bucket attachment to take away.

This machine doesn’t make much noise as a rule, however, this particular machine is in great need of an oil can. Think back to the movie Jaws. Remember that scene where shark catcher, Quint, wants to get everyone’s attention and he scrapes his fingernails down the blackboard? Yeah, that sound. This machine makes a similar sound only much, much louder. I cringed every time I heard it. It just made my blood run cold.

Pieces falling from the bridge.

This little fella couldn’t take the noise anymore and held his ears as he walked home.

The barge catches a good portion of what breaks away and falls.

With their lights on, come nightfall it should be as bright as daylight.

This phase of the bridge de-construction is slated to to take two weeks. TWO WEEKS! Thankfully, I’m a sound sleeper and don’t hear it for the most part. Bob, on the other hand…. We are in the back of the campground, furthest away from it so we keep the windows on the side facing the bridge closed. The TV helps drown it out and the only time we really have a problem with it is if one of us gets up to go to the bathroom and then it sounds really loud as we try to go back to sleep.

I did catch a so-so sunset tonight. I’ve shared much better but it is what it is.

So that’s the news on our bridge.

Bob and I had a really easy day for work. I put in a whole hour and a half and Bob didn’t have to go over at all. The boaters just aren’t here yet. I’m beginning to worry that they aren’t going to get here.

We had a rather upsetting day also. Our new friends and fellow workampers, Jim and Arlene, left today. There are some dirty politics going on here in the campground it seems and they got caught in the middle of it I guess. They decided that this gig just wasn’t worth the headaches. We are so glad we are in the marina this year. They aren’t that far away and we have plans to see them on Thursday for pizza and miniature golf. We really hated to see them go, they were a lot of fun and we enjoyed sitting around talking with them. Hopefully, we’ll also see them next winter in Florida.

They say the warmer weather is coming. We haven’t seen it as yet but we’re hearing the number 100 being bandied about. I was in a sweatshirt this morning. We’ll see.