Route 16 light removal has created treacherous traffic situation
The following letter was sent to Gov. Matt Meyer, Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shante Hastings and former Gov. John Carney with a copy provided to the Cape Gazette for publication.
The treacherous traffic situation created by removing the southbound traffic light at Route 1 and Route 16 begs immediate attention.
Thank you former Gov. Carney for touting no stops and a faster trip from I-95 to our beautiful beaches. I invite you to visit Lewes and our neighboring communities and witness the dangerous traffic situation created.
The planned grade-separated interchange at Route 1 and Cave Neck Road desperately needs to be fast-tracked. Since 2019, DelDOT has done nothing but Band-Aid this death trap.
Imagine a school bus full of students crossing in front of two lanes of trucks and vehicles traveling southbound on Route 1 at a minimum of 65 mph. At 3 p.m., June 5, I watched in horror as the entire extended left-turn lane from Route 1 onto Cave Neck Road was completely filled with 20-plus cars and school buses. It is not a matter of if, but when there is a fatality; hopefully not involving students.
By removing the traffic light at Route 1 and Route 16, there are absolutely no gaps in traffic. DelDOT knew this would occur and subsequently posted signs between Route 16 and Hudson Road stating “High crash area – vehicle crossing ahead” and “Caution watch for turning traffic.”
Seriously, I liken this to polluting the water and then posting a “no swimming” sign.
I invite you to read “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum.
Especially “Or if all governments had a basic policy to always ... clean up their own mess” and “Watch out for traffic” and “Look.”
Please take a look at the mess and clean it up before a fatality occurs, which is inevitable. I drive this stretch of road every day, and crossing Route 1 is now beyond treacherous.
Our northern neighbors seem unconcerned about this unsafe and problematic situation we deal with daily.
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