The applicant is proposing to construct a new bridge protection system. The proposed work would include the installation of eight (8) separate solid-fill dolphin cells. Each cell would measure eighty (80) feet in diameter. Four cells would be installed at the piers supporting the western towers with two cells on the upstream side and two cells on the downstream side. The same configuration would be utilized for the dolphin cells at the piers supporting the eastern towers of the bridge. The dolphin cells at the western towers would be located a minimum of 454 feet from the edge of the Delaware River Federal navigation channel while the dolphin cells at the eastern towers would be located a minimum of 413 feet from the edge of the Delaware River Federal navigation channel.
The proposed work is located in the Delaware River adjacent to the existing bridge piers supporting the center span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge between New Castle County, Delaware and Salem County, New Jersey. Coordinates for the project are: 39.688866 North Latitude and 75.518553 West Longitude.
The proposed cells would be located in water depths ranging from 35 to 45 feet at mean low water. The cells would be constructed with inter-locking steel sheet piles driven into the river bottom by a vibratory hammer. Once the sheet piling is in place the interior area of each dolphin cell would be backfilled with sand and gravel fill and then capped with a concrete slab. The total area of disturbance within the Delaware River for all eight dolphin cells would equal 0.92 acres. Additional information on the project location and design is shown n the attached plans.