Milton committee debates large truck traffic
A Milton traffic committee is examining the impact of large truck traffic coming through town and what, if anything, can be done about it.
The Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Advisory Committee has been looking at various traffic-related issues in Milton, including large trucks. The committee sought to determine how and why large trucks are going through town, and where they are ending up.
The committee found that most large trucks tend to be guided through town by GPS systems. Unlike some other towns, like Milford, Georgetown or downtown Lewes, Milton does not have regulations preventing trucks from going through the central business area.
The committee found that most of the trucks were heading to Dogfish Head, which has a dedicated truck entrance off Cave Neck Road. Councilwoman Randi Meredith said at the committee’s March 24 meeting that she had spoken with Dogfish representatives on the topic and there has been engagement regarding finding an alternate route to direct trucks around town.
The idea from the committee was to devise a route for trucks going to Dogfish Head that would be a straight shot with few stoplights but avoid the town entirely.
This route would have southbound trucks get off Route 1 at Bayhealth’s Sussex Campus in Milford, providing an easy landmark, and then use Route 30 to Sand Hill Road. From Sand Hill Road, trucks would get on Route 5, then take Sam Lucas Road to reach Dogfish’s truck entrance on Cave Neck Road. Trucks would then reverse the route to get back onto Route 1.
The committee also discussed the idea of limiting the tonnage of trucks coming through town, but both the route and tonnage requirements struggled to gain traction, given an inability to enforce them. Councilman John Collier said the main roadways belong to Delaware Department of Transportation, so the state would determine what limits can be imposed on traffic. In addition, delivery trucks go to places other than Dogfish Head, including multiple restaurants and a liquor store.
Ultimately, the committee decided to continue researching the topic; its next scheduled meeting was April 28. A committee report with recommendations for town council is due at the end of July.
