North Millsboro Bypass project nearing completion

Millsboro Mayor Bob McKee, a retired general manager for the New York-New Jersey Port Authority, knows transportation issues well.

Before leaving a 30-year career with the Port Authority, McKee’s broad responsibilities included the George Washington Bridge, the busiest bridge in the world, connecting Fort Lee, N.J., and northern Manhattan.

“I know how things are supposed to work,” said McKee, who moved to Millsboro nine years ago.

McKee now has his eyes set on transportation issues around his hometown as the Delaware Department of Transportation prepares to open the North Millsboro Bypass next month, connecting Routes 24 and 113 north of town.

The bypass is expected to significantly affect the town, siphoning off much of the traffic that creates congestion and opening possibilities to rejuvenate downtown, he said.

“I’m hoping for the best,” McKee said. “I’m hoping it's going to relieve a lot of traffic congestion, especially at the change of shift for the Mountaire [Farms poultry] processing plant.”

The two-lane, 2.8-mile Millsboro connector road project, which was decades in the planning, is winding down after nearly two years of construction.

Crews are working to complete bridges over Millsboro Pond and a Route 113 overpass, said Charles “C.R.” McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations.

The road opening will be celebrated with a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13. Bicyclists will also be able to ride on the new road at the conclusion of the 5K event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Another event is being planned at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 22, to mark the opening of the road at a yet-to-be-determined time later in the day, he said

“There will be a lot of activity that week with the opening and shifting of traffic, so people traveling through that area should be prepared for the changing traffic pattern, especially on the east side where the bypass will tie in to existing Route 24,” McLeod said.

The federal government paid 80% of the $140 million project cost, and DelDOT funded the balance from its capital budget. Groundbreaking for the project was held March 31, 2023. 

Continuing housing development in the area has brought more vehicles and concerns about future road congestion, even after the bypass project is completed, McKee said. 

The town population more than doubled to over 8,000 in the past 10 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

McKee said he is calling for a comprehensive review of roads within a two-mile radius, using computer modeling, to help predict future traffic trouble spots.

The town council and DelDOT have formed a committee to have more open dialogue about management of traffic, he said.

There will still be congestion after the bypass project on Route 24, where there have been several housing developments built in recent years, and the road may have to be widened to eliminate bottlenecks, the mayor said.

Beebe Healthcare and TidalHealth are planning to invest a total of $200 million as each builds a hospital in Millsboro, bringing 500 jobs total and more traffic to the growing community, McKee said.

He said he was disappointed that the state does not plan to restrict truck traffic to the bypass, a move that may be needed to ease downtown congestion.

Acknowledging that the poultry industry is a significant employer in the area, McKee said he wants to be supportive while also meeting the needs of town residents. That means working with poultry companies to determine the most efficient routes for their vehicles while also allowing for downtown redevelopment, he said.

Meanwhile, the town is planning for its future.

Work is nearing completion on a comprehensive plan to help guide growth, and the town formed a committee to plan downtown improvements, McKee said. A consultant may be hired to help with downtown planning, he said.

McKee envisions restaurants with outdoor dining, but eliminating the truck traffic is necessary to making such an arrangement attractive to diners.

Owners or employees of Main Street businesses said Aug. 27 they are cautiously optimistic the bypass will alleviate traffic problems.

During his 12 years owning Rocky’s Pizza, Rick “Rocky” Kangal has had a great view of the traffic outside. Many of the vehicles are trucks. During one hour last summer, he counted 13 chicken trucks driving past.

“The traffic is crazy,” Kangal said. “We don’t need the trucks on Main Street.”

Between 75% and 80% of orders at his shop, which sells pizza, wings, subs and steaks, are delivered due to the traffic congestion, he said. Two tall stacks of empty pizza boxes ready to be filled were stacked high on benches of a booth along a wall in the shop. 

Kangal said he worries that trucks, including many from nearby the Mountaire plant, may not take the new route.

“They stink, they’re noisy,” he said of the poultry vehicles. 

Mike Joynes, who works at Starting Line Barbershop, said he hopes the bypass will help reduce traffic that can be a problem for customers.

“When they have an appointment, it can slow people down,” said Joynes, who has worked for four months at the shop, which has been in business for 13 years. “They try to hurry up and get here because they’re stuck in traffic.”

Two longtime local residents who work part time at Black Cat Antiques said they have seen traffic worsen over the years and hope the bypass can ease congestion.

“I’m really a little skeptical about how it’s going to help the downtown traffic,” said Joyce Graves, a native Delawarean who has lived in Millsboro since 1976. “I have hopes that things will improve.”

Graves said many housing developments have been constructed nearby over the years. More vehicles and some rude or inconsiderate drivers make travel difficult, especially for emergency services vehicles, she said.

“In my 86 years, it’s nowhere near the same,” said Janice Headley of the growing congestion. She said she wishes commercial vehicles would be required to use the bypass.

“I think a lot of you out-of-staters will use it,” Headley said.