Seven contractors had been pre-qualified for the construction but only one bid was received. It was expected to come in at US$200 million - some US$80 million above the estimate.
"We are reviewing our options right now, but make no mistake that from an engineer's perspective a new bridge must be built, and we will build it," said DelDOT chief engineer Carolann Wicks. "What this process shows us is that the construction industry does not appear ready to build this particular type of bridge at this time."
The current design for the bridge would have been the first of its kind in the US. The cable-supported arch had been designed by Figg Bridge Engineers to cross the 305m inlet in a single span to avoid the scour problems experienced at the existing bridge's piers.
With plenty of major infrastructure work available nationwide, contractors do not appear willing to take on a bridge project that has not been built previously in the US, believed the DelDOT engineers.
