LEWES, Del. - Construction is set to begin on a major infrastructure project along Route 1 aimed at improving safety and traffic flow near Minos Conaway Road, Nassau Road and Old Mill Road.
DelDOT celebrated the project's beginning at a groundbreaking Friday morning.
The project includes building a grade-separated intersection to separate through traffic on Route 1 from turning movements to and from the local roads. A shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists is also planned.
DelDOT says the plan will eliminate eight Route 1 crossovers going east to west or west to east and will add three roundabouts.
According to DelDOT, the project is intended to preserve the capacity of the Route 1 corridor and improve safety at the currently unsignalized intersection with Minos Conaway Road. The improvements will also enhance local mobility and access.
DelDOT Cabinet Secretary Shante Hastings says they're essentially creating a service road network.
"Really not having a ton of gaps in some cases making unsafe maneuvers and so through this project, you will no longer be able to do those cross movements," said Hastings.
Hastings says the project will reduce conflict points where they typically see crashes.
Two miles of new pathways for those that prefer to walk or bike will be added, according to Hastings, as well as enhancing another half mile of existing pathways.
"A lot of people would prefer to walk or bike, but can't do it safely in this area today besides the current trail that exists," said Hastings. "So providing those paths along Route 1 along the service route that will be adjacent to Route 1 will be really effective as well."
One of those bikers is local Ray Quillen, who says he was almost hit trying to cross Route 1. He attended the groundbreaking in support of the project's beginning.
"It's amazing that we're finally starting on it. And some people say, 'oh, it'll be three years'. Well, at least it's being done," said Quillen.
Completion is anticipated by summer 2028.