Three options for helping ease traffic congestion in Sussex County discussed Nov. 12 are preliminary, but they give a glimpse at potential solutions the state is considering.

The Coastal Corridors Committee reviewed progress to date on a study of traffic on main east-west corridors, primarily Routes 9, 16 and 24. A public workshop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Georgetown Middle School.

As part of the study, the Delaware Department of Transportation considered projects to widen existing roads, create new ones and improve main streets. Three alternatives that combine some of those elements were outlined at the Nov. 12 meeting, and interest of participants was gauged by an instant survey.

DelDOT is seeking opinions from the committee and community as it considers alternatives to resolve growing traffic problems on east-west corridors that connect with Route 1.

“We're just beginning to contemplate projects that will come out of this effort,” said Leah Kacanda, a senior project planner for consultant Whitman, Requardt and Associates.

There is no funding at this point and possible traffic solution options could be changed based on public comments and further studies, Kacanda said. The state wants to accomplish the greatest improvement of roads while keeping cost in mind, she said. 

Goals are to help keep cars off those roads, expand network connectivity and work with Sussex County Council as it updates its comprehensive plan and considers how to enact steps to limit housing growth recommended in September by a working group, Kacanda said.

All three options – labeled blue, red and green – include improving Route 16 in Milton.

The blue option also includes a northern Milton bypass; a Route 9 connector that diverts traffic north of the road and avoids the Harbeson Road intersection with Route 9; and widening Route 24 south to Indian Mission Road. Cost – $114 million.

The red option includes a southern Route 16 connector road to Route 9 that avoids Milton’s main street; and widening Route 24 south to Oak Orchard. Cost – $146 million

The green option includes a shorter Route 16 connector north of Milton; widening Route 9 east of Harbeson Road to Five Points; and widening Route 24 south to Indian Mission Road. Cost – $114 million.

Cost would be spread out over 10 to 15 years.

Asked which option people attending the Nov. 12 meeting guessed would most improve road capacity, 50% said blue, 31% red and 19% green. Asked which would improve community measures, such as Crash Score, Main Street Candidate Score and Flood Score, 60% chose blue, 30% red and 10% green. 

Ranking regional connector mitigation concepts, most supported a Route 9 connector that avoids the Harbeson Road intersection, followed by the longer of two suggested Route 16 connector roads and a shorter Route 16 connector. 

Scott Collins, a member of the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission, said he worries that creating new road connections could have the unintended consequence of encouraging housing sprawl.

Studies have shown that some road projects planned to ease congestion can create it elsewhere, DelDOT staff noted.

Road improvements will not solve all traffic issues, and they must be accompanied by police enforcement and land-use decisions made by local municipalities, Kacanda said.

“These are decisions that are not made hastily,” she said. “This is a decades-long process, and we are at the beginning of the process.”