Neighbors along the route of a state project to improve access to Route 1 from Minos Conaway Road near Lewes raised speeding and other concerns at a meeting April 30.

During the meeting attended by about 30 people, hosted by state Rep. Alonna Berry, D-Milton, and Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, Delaware Department of Transportation representatives gave a project update and answered questions.

The project is creating service roads that flank Route 1, three roundabouts and a new road under Route 1 at the Nassau Bridge to connect the service roads. The new design will allow the state to close several hazardous crossovers on Route 1 that have been the sites of accidents over the years.

Representing DelDOT were Bryan Behrens, a group engineer, and Sarah Powell, an area engineer whose projects include the Minos Conaway/Route 1 and realignment of the Savannah Road/Orchard Road intersection near Lewes. Powell explained the projects and their timelines.

Steve Isaacson, who lives in Edgewater Estates, said Minos Conaway has no shoulders in many locations and is unsafe for bicyclists.

Charlie Daneri of Mills Chase said there have been eight accidents on the road, particularly near a curve, over the past 13 years. He also said many drivers do not stop on the road where it crosses the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail, which is used by walkers, runners and bicyclists. 

Steps can be taken to make the crossing safer, said Delaware State Police Lt. Nick DeMalto. 

“Remember, the people on the trails bear some responsibility,” he added.

Berry agreed to look at additional signs to warn drivers of the trail. Berry said legislators and others plan to have a public safety walk-and-talk at the end of May or early in June on the trail to consider ways to improve safety.

After some residents requested increased police enforcement, including cameras, Berry said speed cameras are only allowed in road construction zones. However, there is a pending bill that would allow them to be used elsewhere.

State police have electronic message boards on trailers that can be posted along roads with warnings that record vehicle speeds, DeMalto said. But with no shoulders on the road, the 4.5-foot-wide signs would need to be placed on private property, he said. One neighbor offered to allow one in his yard.

DeMalto encouraged people to notify police about speeding problems.

Shirley Hickey, who lives in the Nassau Grove neighborhood, said she was concerned about safety after a wooded area was replaced by an earthen berm along the southbound service road being added parallel to Route 1.

“Get us more trees, get us some things so people can’t come marching through our community,” Hickey said. “That’s one and two. The noise, the safety … and the bicycles.”

Behrens reminded neighbors that DelDOT originally agreed to make the berm higher to reduce sound from Route 1 traffic. Neighbors later did not want that change because it would further reduce vegetation, so it was dropped from the plan in 2023, he said.

At the request of neighbors, the berm will be discussed further.

Several neighbors said they had heard there have been many crimes in their area over the past year. 

DeMalto checked records for the last 365 days and did not find any violent crimes on Minos Conaway Road, but there were three reported thefts.

Lewes Fire Chief Robbie Stephens said his agency is working with DelDOT to make sure emergency vehicles have access to roads and trails during construction projects.

“We’re trying to work with DelDOT the best we can,” Stephens said.