Construction of Roosevelt Inlet’s jetties
This 1994 aerial photograph shows construction of the jetties at Roosevelt Inlet in Lewes.
According to an Aug. 19, 1994, article in the Cape Gazette, the contractor laid 1,730 tons of stone for the east jetty and 25,230 tons for the west jetty. Upon completion of the work, only the Beach Plum Island jetty stood above water level. The contract for the work was awarded in the fall of 1993. The purpose was to correct serious erosion and shoaling problems at the inlet.
As part of the project, a larger parking area at the end of Cedar Street was created. But the project did not solve the inlet’s problems.
Another project in 2004 raised the level of the southern jetty, creating the Roosevelt Inlet boaters and beachgoers know today. That project added more than 21,000 tons of stone to the 550-foot jetty. The inlet was dredged as part of both projects, with the sand pumped onto Lewes Beach in front of Lewes Yacht Club and farther east.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and building pages, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
