In the relatively short time I have lived in eastern Sussex County (three years) there have been numerous stories in the Cape Gazette and countless discussions about how bad and congested Route 1 is, and particularly how dangerous Five Points is.
Having lived in Boston most of my life and driving from there to Seaford monthly on weekends in all kinds of weather, in my opinion Route 1 in general and Five Points in particular, compared to Boston and I-95 traffic, are not all that bad.
Rather than any elaborate re-designing of the local roads there are several steps that could be taken to improve traffic flow on Route 1 at little or no cost to the public.
The first is lower the speed limit to 40 mph or even 35 - and enforce it. The second is to reduce the present number of access points (driveways) to Route 1. A third would be to require commercial property owners to upgrade and standardize their parking lots.
A fourth would be computerize the traffic lights so traffic could flow more efficiently including having - with notifications - camera enforcement at every traffic light. Finally a PSA program to promote safe, defensive and courteous driving is long overdue, not just for Route 1, but throughout Sussex County.
The biggest problems with Five Points are confusing and inadequate signage and poor lighting at night and in inclement weather, along with too many commercial driveways right in the intersection approaches. But on the whole, and as it is, Five Points is not that difficult an intersection to navigate - provided you know where you're going and not attempting to rewrite the rules of the road.
Dropping the speed limit to 35, arguably the most controversial of the above suggestions, would not result in any appreciable increase in time traveled.
And paradoxically might even prove to reduce it.
At least if everyone is driving at a slower - and safer - speed there would probably be a significant reduction in crashes, not to mention a reduction in blood pressures.
John Mears
Millsboro
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