MILTON, Del. - Locals in Milton are voicing concerns about safety at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Route 16 following a deadly car accident.
The crash involved a paramedic SUV truck. A 74-year-old Ellendale woman died in the accident. A traffic light was set to be installed at the busy intersection but in February, the project was delayed for at least six months.
People in and around Milton have shared with CoastTV that there is a need for a traffic light to increase safety in the area and avoid accidents. Others say the issue is about the driver behind the wheel, not the delayed traffic light.
Currently, traffic at the intersection is controlled by a stop sign on Mulberry Street, while drivers on Route 16 face no sign or light. Due to the uncertainty of traffic on the road, many drivers have reported staying extra alert when navigating the busy intersection.
A map of where a future traffic light will go in Milton.
Milton locals like Michael Ostinato say the intersection needs something more than a a stop sign.
"That's one of the most dangerous intersections around in this area right here. I think a traffic light would be great," said Ostinato.
DelDOT tells CoastTV that a traffic signal is planned. They shared "there was extended utility work needed and now we will be moving forward with completing the project."
Long time Miltonian Russell McCabe says he's not sure it's the perfect solution to decrease accidents in that area and wonders how a traffic signal would work with another light just a stone's throw away at the intersection of Rt. 16 and Union St.
"The last thing I would think that they would want to do in the summertime, certainly is have both lights working at the same time. Certainly there would have to be a way to stagger them. I'm not sure that a traffic light is the solution," McCabe shared.
He also shared he would be more in favor of a roundabout as it would allow traffic to keep moving.
DelDOT says they do not yet have a completion date set for the traffic light.
Traffic changes planned in Milton as safety concerns linger on the corner of Mulberry Street and Route 16.
What do you think is the best way to manage traffic at the Mulberry St and Route 16 intersection?
Locals in Milton are voicing concerns about safety at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Rt.16 following a deadly car accident. DelDOT tells CoastTV that a traffic signal is planned. They shared "there was extended utility work needed and now we will be moving forward with completing the project." DelDOT says they do not yet have a completion date set for the traffic light.