We all have noticed over the years how the traffic on Coastal Highway between Milford and Rehoboth has grown to the point that even on weekdays, what used to be a 30-minute drive is now over an hour-and-a-half. There will never be a solution for the ever-worsening traffic woes of Coastal Highway, mostly due to poor planning by county officials and developers going all the way back to when the outlet malls were first in the planning stages.
However one thing that is a new phenomenon starting last year, and that has become a standard, is the “blocking of the box.” I cannot overstress the frustration and the danger when people - mostly because of their selfish nature and desire to get somewhere faster - will deliberately go into an intersection or make a turn onto Coastal Highway knowing full well they will not make it through without blocking traffic. These people then stupidly sit in the middle of the road blocking traffic as frustrated drivers blast horns and then they themselves get stuck in the road.
By far the worst intersections are Route 9, Dartmouth Drive and Coastal Highway when the ferry arrives, and the intersection of Shuttle Road and Coastal Highway, especially since the addition of Fresh Market, Wawa, Bluecoast and the many developments off Shuttle Road. It is only a matter of time before a major road rage incident or deadly traffic accident happens at one of these intersections.
My amazement in all this is that I believe the police and DelDOT are well aware of these nightmares, but for some reason choose to do nothing. If police spent one weekend stationed at the intersections on Coastal Highway, they could issue enough fines to pay for traffic cameras to automatically issue a ticket to anyone who “blocks the box.”
And make the fine a substantial one, as one of these selfish, self-absorbed people will surely one day cause more than just headaches and frustrations for the poor souls who have the misfortune of having to leave the house for groceries.
Wayne Hodge
Rehoboth Beach
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