DelDOT officials seek to improve US Route 9 Truck Bypass
GEORGETOWN, Del. – Community members on Tuesday shared their concerns after state officials came out with disturbing numbers showing the amount of crashes that happen on the US Route 9 Truck Bypass or Park Avenue.
“I’ve seen cars flipped over at the intersection in Route 9,” said resident Tim Abbott.
“I’ve seen big trucks bounce through long after the light has turned red,” said Abbott.
According to DelDOT officials between 2010 and 2014 there were 65 crashes on just one portion of it near US 113 and north of Park Avenue, which is 1.6 times the state average.
“Right now the truck route right now has 10 foot to 11 foot wide travel lanes and two foot shoulders and a proper truck route, which is what we’re proposing will have a 10 foot shoulder with 12 foot travel lane,” said the Project Manager, Ed Robles.
However, in order to do that the state would have to buy land from residents near the bypass. It is something people like Dennis Winzenried said will take a big hit on the value of his home.
“It’s going to cut my front yard basically in half, which will drop my property values and make it a less desirable area to live in,” said Winzenried, “It’s just not fair.”
Winzenried said this expansion will not only have a huge impact on neighbors, but also on pedestrians.
“If you’ve got pedestrians or bicyclists walking on that 10 foot shoulder or riding on that 10 foot shoulder at dusk when someone is making a turn into the driveway that truck trailer is going to naturally go onto that shoulder those people are dead,” said Winzenried.
DelDOT said the state will appraise the value of the properties and make a fair market offer. However, if residents do not accept state officials can still move to acquire the land through eminent domain.
Not everyone is against the proposed plan. Some residents are in favor of it because they said it is needed.
The first phase of the project will cost about $16 million dollars and construction will start spring of 2021.
