Fire Damages Delaware Memorial Bridge, Exclusive From Under The Bridge

 

Update: Bridge officials have opened all lanes on the  Delaware Memorial Bridge.

New Castle – At approximately 10:00 a.m., sparks from a welding operation ignited construction material beneath the Delaware bound Span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, according to Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA) Spokesman , James Salmon.

Salmon said both spans were shut down to all traffic. Responding Delaware fire companies brought the blaze under control at approximately 10:45 a.m. The New Jersey bound Span was reopened to traffic at that time.

The Delaware bound Span remains closed. Consulting structural engineers and DRBA engineers are inspecting the pier, substructure, and highway deck in the vicinity of the fire to make sure it’s safe to travel on. We anticipate the inspection process to be completed by 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. All southbound traffic is being diverted to the Commodore Barry Bridge.

Fire damaged one of the bridge piers melting away the concrete and exposing the rebar.