The 38-span crossing was closed to traffic last month after the discovery that four of the columns had tilted (link opens in new tab).

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and its consultant engineers said from the outset there are two critical tasks necessary for the successful reopening of the bridge. The first is to drill 32 new shafts down to bedrock to create new support columns. The second critical task is to build jacking towers on the new foundations and jack misaligned deck components back into place.

Once the jacking towers are completed, jacks will be placed below the deck and realignment will begin. How well this phase will go is unknown, and the possibility does exist for setbacks or problems to occur, DelDOT cautioned.