A popular feature for visitors to Delaware Seashore State Park on the southern edge of the state continues to be closed due to safety concerns.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Parks & Recreation have now restricted access to a 120-foot section of the bulkhead at the Indian River Inlet within the Delaware Seashore State Park.
The sidewalk and adjacent capstones in the inlet have seen erosion, leading to the decision to close the area indefinitely.
The section was closed off in 2018 with a temporary fence and signage, but the condition of the site has further deteriorated.
The Army Corps is erecting a chain-link fence and posting signage at the location and will continue to monitor the site while long-term repair options are investigated. Pedestrians and visitors are still able to access the sidewalk on either side of the restricted section.
The Army Corps has conducted surveys of the site that show a partial slope collapse beneath the water line, likely due to the presence of a deep hole close to the shoreline and strong tidal currents.
The Army Corps is also coordinating with DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation on drainage issues at the location.
A long-term fix will depend on the availability of future funding and feasibility of possible solutions for stabilizing the section of shoreline.
