Deldot propose US 113 Bypass
Amanda Taylor takes route 113 every day and says the traffic is out of control.
She continues, “It takes me about 20 to 30 minutes just to get through Millsboro alone. It’s about an hour and a half or two hours to get to work. Usually it would be about 40 minutes.”
Stanley Skrzec has the same struggle. He goes on, “Right around five o’clock, it’s terrible during the summer.”
This is an issue Deldot has been working on for more than a decade through their US 113 North/South Study.
They’ve reviewed more than 30 alternatives to fix the issue and had strong opposition from their most recent bypass suggestion in 2013 called Blue Alternative.
That plan would have cost about $800 million, was roughly 16 miles long, and could have affected hundreds of homes. Now, there’s a new plan.
Bryan Behrens, project manager at Deldot says, “By providing a third lane on 113, we get to increase capacity at our major north south corridor. With a 24 connector that bypasses downtown Millsboro, we can solve and reduce congestion.”
The connector would be in the form of bridges, allowing drivers to cross over route 113, Betts Pond, and Millsboro Pond.
The third lane would go from Dagsboro Road to Betts Pond in Millsboro. The whole project stretches about 2.7 miles and has an estimated cost of less than $100 million. It also appears it won’t affect many homes.
Taylor says, “Adding lanes I feel would just help getting to work a lot quicker. It would help the locals you know.”
Those are the thoughts Deldot officials are hoping to hear from residents when they host their public input meeting on Wednesday. They say this is the best possible plan.
Behrens continues, “I think something like this can work. I’m anxious to see what the public has to say about it.”
Deldot will be hosting their public input meeting about the bypass at the Millsboro Town Center at 4 p.m on Thursday, October, 14th.
