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New Road must be widened first

June 1, 2018

After reading your headline article in the May 22 edition (Developer seeks 293 units on Groome property) one has to hope that before Sussex County and the State of Delaware approve any development to take place on the open lands along New Road by New Road Ventures LLC, they do something to improve the road for all who use it.

When DNREC constructed the new boat ramp at Roosevelt Inlet, they wanted to route boat-towing vehicles down New Road to avoid the narrow, pedestrian-laden streets of Lewes. Some of the vehicles that are now making use of New Road are wider than the travel lane.

The mishmash of just widening the roadway in front of a development does not work if you are using a bike lane or broad shoulder for biking, running or walking. Just look at the great bike lane on the east side of Old Orchard Road. It is very short, brings you nowhere and is not being utilized.

Delaware puts the cart before the horse when it comes to planning. They want to put in developments, businesses and other facilities, and when they realize the effect of traffic, they wonder how they can solve the problem vs. planning for it before any development occurs.

Therefore, before an additional 2,812 trips on an average weekday are added to New Road for the Groome property development, Sussex County and the state of Delaware should make the necessary updates to widen New Road from Route 1 to Pilottown Road.

Pepperr Liner
Lewes

 

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