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Lewes releases consultant study on roads

New Road improvements needed if development in corridor occurs
July 26, 2016

A Lewes consultant is concerned about increased traffic on New Road and a state project that could add even more cars to the narrow roadway.

Environmental Resources Management, a planning consultant hired by Lewes city council, recently released a study of the entire city's roadways. This is the second iteration of the study, which initially only included roads east of Savannah Road. In addition to all roadways in Lewes, the study also encompasses roads leading into the city.

Mayor and city council accepted the report at its July meeting, and will hold a special meeting in the future with a representative from ERM to offer a more in-depth explanation of the report.

Most of the report's observations and recommendations focus on the proposed Gills Neck Village Center at the corner of Kings Highway and Gills Neck Road (to read about ERM's comments, check out Ron MacArthur's July 22 article on Village Center); however, a portion of the study tackles a proposed project at the Nassau bridge that would create an exit from southbound Route 1 that leads directly to New Road.

With hundreds of acres of developable land on New Road, ERM says the Department of Transportation should study the cumulative traffic effects of the proposed interchange. The findings of the study should form the basis for future developer agreements to undertake or fund transportation system improvements to ensure safety and mobility along New Road, ERM says.

The development of Point Farm (already approved) and other properties on New Road could add in excess of 15,000 trips per day to the New Road corridor, increasing traffic by three or four times its current daily average, the study estimates.

According to the study, the annual average daily traffic on New Road is 4,988 trips near the intersection with West Fourth Street. In the peak season, the average daily traffic is 5,986.

New Road is 20 feet wide in most areas with little to no shoulder. If development were to occur in the New Road corridor, ERM says, wider lanes, dedicated turn lanes and paved shoulders would be needed.

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