(MILLVILLE, Del.)- Elected officials, engineers, residents and business owners gathered at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company today to cut the ribbon on a road improvement project that creates significant upgrades for residents and visitors along the Route 26 corridor in Sussex County. After two years of construction, carefully planned detours, and dozens of meetings with residents, the 4.1 mile stretch of Route 26 is substantially completed.
Speaking before the ribbon was cut, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper, Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan, Senator Gerald Hocker, Representative Ron Gray, U.S. Federal Highway Division Administrator Mary Ridgeway all said the improvements make the road safer while also making it more efficient for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike.
After holding public workshops and numerous conversations with residents and business owners over a multi-year period, it was clear that this stretch of Route 26 had to be improved with two primary goals. The first goal was to make the road more efficient, meaning creating a road that will keep traffic moving, and minimize waiting time for travelers. The other goal was to make the road safe for other modes of travel, like bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians.
To make the road more effective at moving traffic, engineers installed a two-way left turn lane and six new traffic signals. The turn lanes themselves will allow traffic to keep moving, even when a vehicle has to wait to turn left from Route 26.
The new traffic signals are located at the intersections of Powell Farm Road, Route 17, Old Mill Road, Central Avenue, West Avenue, and Central Avenue.
Because this is a resort community, where residents and visitors like to travel to the beach by walking or bicycling, it was imperative that any new construction make it safer for these users. To accomplish that, engineers installed sidewalks from Windmill Drive to Assawoman Canal, as well as bicycle lanes the entire length of the project.
During heavy rainfall, Route 26 had always been one of the roads in Sussex that was prone to flooding. Because the road is a critical East-West Route, the flooding issues had to be addressed. For that reason, engineers constructed a closed drainage system consisting of drainage inlets and underground drainage pipes along the majority of the corridor.
Speaking to officials and invited guests DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan said, "DelDOT is thrilled to present the completed Route 26 Mainline Project to the residents of and visitors to south eastern Sussex County." "Since construction began in January of 2014, we have widened more than four miles of roadway, added a two-way left-turn lanes, installed a 5-foot bicycle lane, and constructed curbs and sidewalks from Windmill Drive to the Assawoman Canal. We have improved drainage along the majority of the corridor, and we have added important signals for drivers and pedestrians too. This was a $25 million project that meant working with a large number of property owners. Our contractors and staff developed an effective communications plan that brought together our goals and residents' expectations, and in the end we all have a fantastic new stretch of roadway to use and enjoy."
Governor Jack Markell said, "As a result of support from our federal partners, including the Congressional delegation, as well as outstanding cooperation from local officials, we were able to move forward with an important effort to improve safety and reduce congestion for residents, visitors, and those traveling in and around Millville. This project continues the progress from our infusion of state investment in infrastructure projects that make Delaware safer, grow our economy, and create immediate construction jobs."
U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper said the project highlights how federal and state funds can advance infrastructure needs. "I'm sure I share the sentiments of residents, business owners, and tourists alike when I say I am thrilled the Route 26 project has come to completion," Carper said. "Over the last several years, this major road improvement project took a heavily traveled route through southern Sussex County and reduced congestion, improved road conditions and added safety improvements. This is a great example of using federal and state funds to improve our transportation infrastructure making it multimodal, safe and efficient while boosting the economy surrounding it."
One of the champions of this project pushing it from the early conceptual phases until final construction was State Senator Gerald Hocker. At the ribbon cutting event, he reflected on some of that early work. "I am so happy to see the completion of this project that will increase safety and make travel easier on Route 26. The Route 26 work is part of a package of improvements I introduced with a Senate Resolution my first term as Senator," Hocker said. I requested a study of the three East/West Routes; Route 24, Route 26, and Route 54 in lower Sussex. As a result, work has been completed on Route 54; the Route 24 project is currently being engineered; and today we are here for a ribbon cutting for the Route 26 project. I can't thank George and Lynch enough for the cooperation they have given Representative Gray and me, and the residents in the construction area. I'd also like to thank DelDOT's project team for seeing the work was completed on time and with the least amount of inconvenience."
A constant presence at every community advisory meeting, throughout the entire construction phase was State Representative Ron Gray. He was proud to have a hand in helping deliver this project to the residents and visitors, he said at the event. "I am thrilled to be able to finally cut the ribbon on this long-awaited project. The DelDOT team should be commended for a job very well-done, always working to minimize the amount of inconvenience for motorists and for nearby residents and local businesses," Gray said. "I know the citizens in this area will greatly benefit from the road, drainage and pedestrian improvements as a result of this project. It's a win for everyone involved."
By the numbers:
4.14 miles - Overall Project Length;
More than 6 linear miles - Length of new curbs installed;
3.5 linear miles - Length of new sidewalks installed;
5 - Signalized intersections installed;
240 - Utility pole relocations;
2 - The number of bridge replacements;
16 - Meetings of the Construction Advisory Group; and
160 - Weekly email updates to residents, business owners, elected officials, and other stakeholders
