The DelDOT staff involved with designing, constructing and maintaining the 1,426 bridges in our inventory are committed to ensuring these structures remain safe and structurally sufficient. One of our performance measures is the structural sufficiency of bridges, which for years has been at or above 95 percent based upon federal and state standards. While we are confident that our bridges are safe, the DelDOT bridge staff and I have recognized the potential benefits of stepping up the frequency of inspections while remaining vigilant on completing the design plans for construction on our high priority bridges.

Our Bridge Program is part of our core business, and it is one of the reasons I have been so public about our need for new revenues to fund the transportation program. The new funding approved by the General Assembly this year will allow us to continue with what is such a vital part of our transportation system. While many states are struggling to dedicate sufficient funds to their bridge programs, Delaware has made this a priority.

There are many highlights and issues that I would like to point out and I think the best way to do that is provide you with bullets of information. You will see below we are aggressive in our approach to maintaining a safe bridge system, recognizing their importance for the safety of travelers and also because they provide a vital link for businesses, emergency services and tourism.

• Our bridge program ranks as one of the top 10 in the nation on a year-to-year basis. A June 2007 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Delaware Chapter, noted "DelDOT does an excellent job of maintaining the structural integrity of its bridge systems." The Reason Foundation's 16th Annual Highway Study also recently noted that we have the seventh lowest percent of "deficient bridges."
  
  
• We rank among the lowest in the nation for percent of bridges that are considered "structurally deficient." In Delaware, this does not mean a bridge is unsafe. If a bridge was unsafe, we would not hesitate to close it immediately.
  
  
• The term "structurally deficient" has caused many people concern. This term is simply an engineering term that, for DelDOT, means there is a component on a bridge that needs attention. Typically, all 38 structurally deficient bridges (only 2.7 percent of all DelDOT bridges) on this list are either being worked on now or are planned to be worked on through our normal program. It needs to be noted, these bridges are safe. We are unique in that while other state DOT's may have bridges closed because they are unsafe, we have been very aggressive with our bridge program and we are able to repair or fix the bridges that make it to the top of the list fairly quickly. Also, of the 38 bridges identified, 20 are simply roads over pipes, undetectable to a motorist.
  
  
• Another category that has raised concerns is the term "fracture critical." This is another type of bridge design where we rank among the lowest in the nation, having only 20 such bridges. Of these, only four are also considered "structurally deficient," including Rising Sun Lane over the Brandywine Creek near Wilmington (construction project set for January 2009), James Street over the Christina River in Newport (inspection last done in March, with details for a future project being worked on now), Walnut Street over the Christina River in Wilmington (last inspected in April, with corrective actions being developed), and St. Anne's Church Road over railroad tracks near Middletown (scheduled for construction in FY 2009, with another inspection planned this month). For extra precaution, I have ordered for all the above bridges that the regular 12-month inspection schedule be moved to 6-month inspection schedules.
  
  
• There are 16 other "fracture critical" bridges that are not structurally deficient. Of those that have not had major work done within the last five years I have ordered more frequent inspections.
  
  
• The term "functionally obsolete" also has been thrown about recently. This means there is some type of geometric condition that does not meet today's bridge standards. Many of our historic bridges would fit into this category such as having a 5-foot shoulder when today we might propose a 10-foot shoulder to meet current traffic demands.
  
  
• Regarding the type of bridge that collapsed in Minnesota, we have one similar steel deck truss design, the Augustine Cut Off Bridge over Brandywine Creek in New Castle County. While the bridge was last inspected in May 2006 and had a major upgrade in 1980s, we will be doing a full-scale inspection beginning Tuesday, August 7. This inspection will include an ultrasonic inspection of some of the structure, as well as other tests. This is not a structurally deficient bridge.
  
  
• The Indian River Inlet Bridge project has also garnered much attention statewide. As you know, in the most recent process to award a contract to build a new bridge, DelDOT went as far as accepting bids. However, a subsequent review revealed that the 2006 Bond Bill provisions authorizing this design/build project were ambiguous. Such ambiguity rendered it impossible to assess the legality of the process. To avoid protracted litigation, DelDOT set aside the bids in order to work with the General Assembly and State Office of Management and Budget to clarify the ambiguities in the statutes. That new language was recently made law and allows DelDOT to move forward with a new procurement process. Within the next year we will have a new IRIB contract awarded, with construction soon to follow. One of the specific areas of concern raised by residents and travelers is the safety of the bridge itself. The existing bridge is in no immediate danger of failing, and we are regularly monitoring conditions. To ensure the existing bridge remains stable while a new bridge is built, DelDOT performs underwater diver inspections on a yearly basis and the Army Corps of Engineers has continued to provide DelDOT with their periodic bathymetric surveys. Our next inspection is scheduled for next month. As an added precaution, the department is working with the University of Delaware to develop and implement additional monitoring techniques to ensure any significant changes within the inlet streambed are immediately detected and assessed. The public can be assured that if a natural disaster or other event was to occur, we would immediately inspect the bridge to ensure it is stable and take appropriate action.
  
  
• Delaware's list of bridges includes almost 600 that most motorists wouldn't recognize as bridges because they are simply pipes under roadways. This is unique nationally as well, because we are responsible for 90 percent of the state's roadways while the majority of other state transportation departments are responsible for 20-50 percent.
  
  

Please feel free to contact DelDOT Public Relations with questions at 302-760-2080, or e-mail us at dot-public-relations@state.de.us.

Additional Information:

• Indian River Inlet Bridge Receives Tilt Sensors and Inspection
• DelDOT's Priority Bridges
• Augustine Cut Off Bridge Inspection Scheduled for August 7, 2007
• Bridge Atlas
• Bridge Design Manual
• Bridge Maintenance Manual
• Indian River Inlet Bridge Project
• Grading Delaware's Infrastructure

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