More than 10 years after work began on the 17-mile Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail, the project is expected to be completed in the fall, with state officials planning a 5K race and an opening bike ride to mark the occasion.

Details of the commemorative events have yet to be determined, said C.R. McLeod, director of community relations for the Delaware Department of Transportation.

The official groundbreaking for the final 6.1 miles between Airport Road in Georgetown and Fisher Road was held in December 2025, but work began in earnest in the spring. 

The 10-foot-wide paved path that partially follows the decommissioned Delaware Coast Line Railroad corridor is shared by pedestrians and bicyclists. A 1.6-mile stretch of 12-foot-wide elevated boardwalk is included on the final leg of the trail to avoid damage to wetlands.

The state plans to study the feasibility of constructing a trail bridge to create a safer crossing of Route 9 near Cool Spring Road.

Meanwhile, other state transportation projects in the area are also moving ahead, according to details provided by McLeod.

Two significant projects that have seen notable progress through the winter and spring are not expected to be completed until fall 2028.

They are the grade-separated intersection near Minos Conaway Road and Route 1 between Lewes and Milton, and the Wescoats/Old Orchard intersection realignment at Savannah Road west of Lewes. 

The intersection of Minos Conaway Road and Route 1 is scheduled to be closed starting Monday, July 13, as a new roundabout is constructed during the following 64 days.

The entire project, which creates two roundabouts and service lanes flanking Route 1 and an underpass of Route 1, eliminates several dangerous traffic crossovers on Route 1.

The Wescoats/Old Orchard intersection realignment will have a 30-day detour for the Old Orchard Road tie-in planned for early August. 

Drainage and utility work is also beginning as part of the project on nearby Clay Road over summer, with no impacts to traffic expected.

Planning for other projects is in earlier stages. Among them are:

Plantation Road Phase 2: The state is nearing final design and is moving into the right-of-way acquisition phase. The construction timeline is not yet determined and will be based on available funding once the right-of-way acquisition is complete. The project includes two roundabouts, one at the intersection of Plantation Road and Robinsonville Road, and another at the entrances to Plantations East/West communities. The entire project limits pick up from where the Phase 1 project ended at Robinsonville Road and extend to Route 24.

Kings Highway: The state is moving into the right-of-way acquisition phase, with the appraisal process beginning this summer. The construction timeline has not been determined and will be based on available funding once the right-of-way acquisition phase is complete. The project includes five roundabouts and roadway widening from Dartmouth Drive to east of Gills Neck Road. There will be shared-use paths and sidewalks along both sides of Kings Highway for the entire project limits between Route 1 and the split with Freeman Highway.

Route 9 – Old Vine Boulevard to Route 1: This project is in the design phase. The state anticipates moving into the right-of-way acquisition phase in early 2027.  The construction timeline is yet to be determined and will be based on available funding once the right-of-way acquisition phase is complete. The project includes widening to a five-lane section – two through lanes in each direction with a center turn lane – and will tie in to improvements made in the Plantation Road Phase 1 project at the intersection with Route 9.

Route 24: For further improvements, project development is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2029 for the section between Love Creek Bridge and Mission Road. There is no additional timeline for the project at this point.