Charles W. Cullen Bridge (Indian River Bridge)

Sussex County, DE

Shortly after the completion of the Charles W. Cullen Bridge, Vertical Access was included in a team to perform maintenance of the stay cables. Vertical Access’ scope of work involved examining and installing fasteners at the expansion tubes where the stay cables meet the pylons.

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Structure description

Constructed between 2008 and 2012, the Charles W. Cullen Bridge spans the Indian River Inlet. It is a cable-stayed bridge with four pylon towers and 152 stays supporting the deck. The total length of the bridge is 2,600 feet and the main span between pylons is 950 feet, with the pylons rising 247 feet above sea level.

Scope of work

  • Used industrial rope access techniques to perform the maintenance work at the upper stay cables on each pylon, avoiding major interruptions to bridge traffic.

Structure owner

  • Delaware Department of Transportation

In collaboration with