Several events bring paralyzing traffic to Lewes

It's the biggest traffic weekend so far of the 2014 summer season as crowds start rolling in for a number of events and to get a jump on the Independence Day holiday.

In Lewes, the Beach Blast Lacrosse Tournament at Cape Henlopen High School and the Lewes School combined with the Sea Glass Festival at the Lewes Historical Society complex, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market at Shields Elementary School and the Classic and Custom Car Show at Hazzard's Auto and Liberty Gas Station brought traffic to a standstill on Savannah Road and Kings Highway late Saturday morning.  Lewes Police officers and Delaware State Police officers manned at least three intersections to try to keep traffic moving. For at least an hour, officers diverted incoming traffic on Savannah Road through Henlopen Gardens and over to Kings Highway because of gridlock.

"This is what happens when you have perfect weather combined with four or five events all happening at the same time," said one officer.

In Rehoboth Beach and on Route 1, traffic was heavy and steady from about 10 a.m. on Saturday.  The local bicycling and walking trails were also experiencing steady use as the summer season has kicked into high gear.