 In 2009 , work began to replace the steel @-@ girder Indian River Inlet Bridge with a cable @-@ stayed span due to scouring that had occurred to the steel girder bridge . The new Indian River Inlet Bridge opened to southbound traffic on January 20 , 2012 . Delaware Governor Jack Markell , U.S. Senator Tom Carper , and DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt rode in the first car across the bridge . On January 30 , 2012 , one northbound lane of the new bridge opened . All four lanes of the bridge as well as the pedestrian and bicycle walkway opened in spring 2012 . Demolition of the 1965 bridge began in spring 2012 and was completed in spring 2013 . 
