The state is proposing to build a $69 million overpass at the intersection of U.S. 113 and Route 404 near Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown. The plan would drastically change the existing traffic pattern and wipe out nearly a half-dozen businesses.
The plan takes Route 404 over U.S. 113, with two large circular ramps on either side of U.S. 113. DelDOT plans to widen U.S. 113 from two to three lanes in each direction from N. Bedford Street to W. North Street, and three crossovers will be eliminated. The traffic signal to the shopping center that’s home to Redner’s and Walmart will remain.
Beginning this year, DelDOT will begin acquiring the land it needs for the project. C.R. McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations, said land acquisition will cost about $42 million. According to the plan presented at a Feb. 19 workshop, the Boulevard Ford and Lincoln car dealership, Royal Farms, NAPA Auto Parts and Shore Distributors will be lost. Other businesses within the project area may also be lost if alternative access is not possible.
“There will be significant right-of-way impacts due to the project’s location and size; however, we feel this project is necessary to reduce congestion, decrease accidents, and accommodate anticipated traffic growth,” McLeod said.
DelDOT has been in contact with a majority of the property owners and businesses that are significantly impacted by the project, McLeod said, and DelDOT will continue to provide them with updates as the project progresses.
Land acquisition is expected to take three years, with construction beginning in 2023 and completing in 2026. The project will be broken into six phases. Construction costs are estimated at $26.7 million.
This project is the beginning of a multi-year, more than $500 million, investment to transform Route 113 from Ellendale to Millsboro, McLeod said. This project is one of five “first priority” projects in the U.S. 113 Corridor Strategic Implementation Plan, developed in October 2017. The plan involves 17 projects, including 12 grade separations (overpasses) along Route 113. According to previous reports, 80 percent of the cost of all projects in the plan will be covered with federal funds.
Only four of the projects are ranked on the state’s five-year Capital Transportation Program list of 115 statewide projects. DelDOT expects the projects along the Route 113 corridor to be completed over the next 20 years, McLeod said.
DelDOT will accept comments on the plan until Friday, March 20. To learn more about the project or to submit comments, go to www.deldot.gov/projects and search US 113 @ SR 18/SR 404.
