2007 Top Stories
Opportunities for a new life and a better future were set into motion for Sussex County in 2007.
Conjoined twins celebrated their first birthday apart and wind farms promised a plan to provide clean energy to Delaware residents.
Beach dunes will be replenished from nature's wear and beach-goers may have an opportunity to breathe in fresh air with a possible smoking ban. Not without some controversy, of course.
An investigation is continuing for an unstable bridge, but hospital construction offering emergency care remains on target.
Indian River Inlet Bridge fiasco
The ongoing saga of the new Indian River Bridge continued in 2007, with officials from the Delaware Department of Transportation announcing in October that the current plan to construct the bridge would be abandoned. It was found that the approaches to the bridge, constructed between February 2006 and February 2007 at a cost of $6.3 million, were already listing to the west.
Changes to the project include the construction of a 2,600-foot span almost twice as long as the original plan. Costs are expected to increase by $20 million, bringing the total cost of the project to $150 million.
The two mounds of dirt and rock that were slated to support the approaches to the new bridge lie untouched on both sides of the Indian River Inlet, while an investigation into what went wrong is now being conducted by DelDOT.
At a recent press conference, DelDOT secretary Carolann Wicks said the investigation could take an additional six to eight months. As for the bridge, it is expected to remain untouched until the spring when construction is slated to begin. Previous reports from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicate the bridge could become structurally deficient as early as 2008.
Wind farms
The Bluewater Wind offshore wind development company proposed a plan this year to build 150 wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean 11 miles off Rehoboth Beach.
The plan would provide clean energy to 100,000 Delaware residents. The turbines are projected to be up to 400 feet tall.
Officials in opposition of the plan argued the turbines would distort the ocean view for visitors to Rehoboth Beach. In addition, the project was also hampered by fluctuations in the cost of the project and the projected cost of wind power for the consumer. In a statement released on the company's Web site, Delmarva Power President Gary Stockbridge said while his company promotes using green energy, the Bluewater project is too high-risk for it to be agreed upon.
Jim Lanard, spokesman for Bluewater Wind, said the next date to watch in this project is Dec. 18, when state officials will review another proposed contract between Bluewater and Delmarva Power. The contract would be projected to be a 25-year contract, although most eyes are on the price of such an endeavor.
Beach replenishment irks residents
Bethany Beach's storm damage reduction project kicked off after Labor Day 2007.
The project, which came with a price tag of $22.5 million with an additional cost of $5.3 million for additional replenishments every three years, pumped about 3.4 cubic yards of sand onto 2.8 miles of shoreline in Bethany Beach and South Bethany.
The protective dune has not come without controversy. While residents lobbied for years for the bigger beach, some have been upset by the height of the dune. They claim the 16-foot dune blocks their view of the ocean and makes it difficult for disabled residents to visit the beach.
"The other main elements that still remain would be building crossovers and planting dune grass," said spokesman Ed Voight. "But right now, we're on track to be done in February."
Ruddertowne
Whatever is built on the site of Dewey Beach's Ruddertowne complex will not be taller than the town's current 35-foot height limit for new construction.
The Dewey Beach Town Council in 2007 turned down plans by developers who recently purchased the collection of restaurants and shops to build a 68-foot-tall luxury hotel and condominium resort.
Harvey, Hanna & Associates, a Wilmington company, bought the long-standing nightspot and convention hall from Highway One Partners in 2007 and announced plans to build a hotel and resort larger than anything else in Dewey Beach.
Popular opposition to building on that scale, and the reluctance of several members of Dewey's Town Council, made those original plans unworkable, and HHA offered other designs late in the year. A final decision on what will happen with the property has not been reached. Highway One, the former owners, completed the sale in the fall and made moves to open a branch of one of their restaurants, a Jimmy's Grille, not far from Ruddertowne in Dewey Beach.
