$11M Traffic pattern change aims to solve traffic congestion in Lewes

LEWES, Del.- Lawmakers and DelDot officials gathered in a vacant lot that is soon to be the site of an $11 million Plantation Road improvements project in Lewes Wednesday, touting the benefits that the plan will bring the area.

“Nobody knows what this intersection is called but is affectionately named malfunction junction which is appropriate for that intersection,” said Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, speaking at the groundbreaking.

The new plan at the Five Points intersection will feature a traffic circle, expanded pedestrian walkways, and bike lanes aimed to give better access and exit routes to and from Rehoboth, as well as Route 1 and Route 9.

DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski says the plan is part of a long-standing workgroup that incorporated public feedback.

“There were 78 recommendations that were put forth some short-term, medium and long term recommendations for improvement to this area. 62 of those recommendations have either been completed or are underway,” Majeski said.

House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf says he’s sat in meetings on how to fix the intersection for 20 years and these changes represent a major step forward.

“To get to route 1, that intersection, you have to go all the way around five points intersection this will take all that traffic out of there which is a good thing it will go through where we are standing then hit the circle, and whichever they want to go from there,” he said.

He says the plan had been in the work for years, with the value of the land being the most drastic holdup to the construction.

“The property values out here are growing. It is an extremely expensive plot of land, and whenever we talk about expanding lanes or roads its five feet from every property. That can really add up the price, to the point where that’s more expensive than doing the actual improvements on the land,” Schwartzkopf said.

The plan would also eliminate the need to cross over multiple lanes of traffic to get from one exit ramp to another and allow for less time spent waiting in traffic as a red light stop creates a traffic wave that lasts far longer than the length of the stop itself.

“With the increased traffic coming off of route one, it backs up into the intersection, it does a lot of different things, none of which are good,” Schwartzkopf said.

The project is expected to start in the next two-three weeks and will continue through the end of the year.

“We have the land, we have the design, now we are moving forward,” Schwartzkopf said.