DelDOT must find solutions

The indefinite delay of the New Road bridge replacement project in Lewes is a threat to public safety and quality of life. While environmental regulations must be respected, the urgency of replacing this chronically flooding bridge cannot be overstated.

At just 2.9 feet above normal water level, the existing 35-year-old timber bridge is dangerously low and frequently impassable during coastal storms. This flooding puts motorists at risk, disrupts daily travel and hampers emergency response access to neighborhoods on either side of Canary Creek. Residents have long dealt with road closures and hazardous conditions – issues that will only worsen as sea levels continue to rise.

DelDOT’s plan to raise the bridge to meet the 100-year flood elevation and elevate the surrounding roadway is forward-thinking and sound. A 100-foot bridge, rising 9 to 10 feet above Canary Creek, would vastly improve flood resilience and community safety.

Yet, the project remains at a standstill over the failure to secure land for a mitigation site. While environmental safeguards serve a critical purpose, they should not become insurmountable obstacles. DelDOT must work collaboratively and creatively to find a solution. The community cannot wait years for safer, more reliable infrastructure.

Also top of mind this summer is the ongoing danger posed by several Route 1 crossovers between Route 16 and Five Points. These intersections have become increasingly hazardous due to high traffic volumes, fast-moving vehicles and limited opportunities to cross or turn. The result has been a series of preventable crashes that put both residents and visitors at risk.

In 2019, DelDOT announced plans to reconfigure the crossovers at Oyster Rocks Road, Hudson Road and Route 5 to address these concerns. Yet, only Route 5 has seen completed improvements. 

Hopefully, DelDOT is using recently installed temporary cameras to study traffic patterns and document just how unsafe these crossovers have become because, as residents of the area can attest, the time for action has long passed.