DelDOT invests $1 billion in Sussex County road improvements

DOVER, Del. – In Delaware, $4 billion is set to improve congestion, roadways, and other transportation needs throughout the state with nearly $1 billion is going towards some major, much needed road improvement projects in Sussex County.

“This is clearly the biggest transportation investment in Sussex County, maybe in history,” says Gov. John Carney.

Sussex County is now at the forefront of DelDOT’s latest improvement plans with nearly $1 billion going directly towards improving some roads that desperately need it.

“The whole idea is to get people to their place with a quicker arrival, but also to relieve congestion for year round residents as well and just to enhance the quality of life in the towns across Sussex County,” explains Carney.

From proposed new overpasses in Georgetown to turning a decommissioned railway into a paved road in Lewes. It’s all in effort to make getting from point A to point B easier.

DelDOT Sec. Jennifer Cohan says, “What we’re trying to do is real estate is very limited in that area. We’re not going to be able to new build our way out of the congestion, but utilizing existing facilities like we have down there with the rail bed will allow us to do that connector as well as preserve it for a trail as well.”

The biggest part of the improvement plan will focus on about 30 miles of the 113 corridor from Ellendale all the way down to Millsboro where they plan to eliminate crossovers and create bypasses to relieve congestion.

“The town’s hope is the bypass will help with the truck traffic, that the Route 24 will become more about car traffic, more about stopping and patronizing the downtown businesses. So that business owners can put a table out on the sidewalk so patrons can dine outside that’s kind of the long term vision the town has,” explains Sheldon Hudson, Millsboro Town Manager.

Now we’re told a lot of these projects won’t be done until 2023 to 2025, but they’re looking at ways to try and expedite some of the more crucial ones to get the relief that many in Sussex County need.

Although it’s not all road construction, DelDOT is doing smaller projects, like investing in trails and bike paths in Lewes and along the beach towns.

But most importantly they’re working on bettering public transportation.

“We’re also focusing on public transportation. The Lewes park and ride phase three that’s going to be done. We just started our year around service in the beach resort areas. We’re going to be looking to do more of that once that third phase is done,” explains Sec. Cohan.

And DelDOT is asking for patience throughout these various road improvement projects saying there will be some pain for locals living in these areas.