Indian River Inlet has always been challenging

Gov. John Carney recently announced a major replenishment project to build up the beach and dune north of the Indian River Inlet after two breaches shut down Route 1 earlier this year. The project will also involve driving metal sheets vertically into the ground to further protect the roadway. 

This problem is nothing new at Indian River Inlet. Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on that section of the coast for decades. One such occasion was the infamous Storm of ’62. This aerial photograph shows how the storm washed out the roadway on both sides of the bridge. The storm pounded the Delaware coast for three consecutive days, causing millions of dollars in property damage and killing 40 people.