The present inlet was formed in 1929 and was widened and stabilized by the Corps of Engineers from 1938-1940. The first three bridges that spanned the inlet were plagued by a series of failures due to environmental and meteorological conditions. Most recently, severe channel bed scour to depths in excess of 100 feet threatened the long-term stability of the last bridge. Design of the current bridge commenced in September 2008. Over the next three plus years, dedicated crews endured some of the most extreme weather events on record while advancing the design and construction of the bridge. A series of regional storms, hurricanes, tropical storms, and blizzards brought high winds, repeated flooding, and record-setting snowfalls. At one point during construction, the ocean reached the bay just south of the bridge site. Just prior to completing construction on the 950 foot main span, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook the region and the bridge. After successfully withstanding these extreme events, the bridge was opened to traffic on January 20, 2012. It was the first to fully span the aggressive waters of the Indian River Inlet, and its 152 cable stays, whose unique blue color was chosen by the public, and its 248 foot tall pylons made it a unique and enduring landmark for Sussex County, Delaware.