Man says he called 911 in April to report problems with now-closed Delaware bridge

A Delaware businessman says he notified transportation officials nearly two months ago that something was wrong with a major bridge the state closed earlier this week due to tilting support columns.

Charles Allen Jr. told The Associated Press on Friday that he noticed the cement Jersey barriers dividing the northbound and southbound lanes of the Interstate 495 bridge in Wilmington were separating when driving over the bridge on April 15.

Allen said he called 911 after not being able to reach the transportation department immediately. He said a transportation official called him back minutes later and told him someone would look at the bridge the following day.

Allen spoke to the AP after The News Journal of Wilmington published an interview with him Friday and posted the 911 call on its website.

Transportation secretary Shailen Bhatt told the AP his department is investigating the 911 call.