Speed limits lowered on Lewes-area roads
Lewes-area drivers may have noticed lowered speed limits on New Road, Kings Highway and Old Orchard Road.
In the last few weeks, the limit has dropped on all three roadways as the Department of Transportation seeks to improve safety and consistency among local roads.
C.R. McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations, said Kings Highway was dropped to 35 mph from Dartmouth Drive to Freeman Highway due to public concerns about safety, specifically regarding pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Lewes Mayor and City Council reduced the speed from 50 mph to 40 mph on Freeman Highway in 2018.
DelDOT tries to keep speed limits consistent when possible, McLeod said.
On New Road, the speed limit dropped from 45 mph to 35 mph from Nassau to the Canary Creek bridge. The 25 mph zone in Lewes was extended to the western side of the bridge.
McLeod said a speed limit study was initiated by the New Road Corridor Master Plan, an effort of the Historic Lewes Scenic Byway group. New signs were posted in mid-January.
Because Old Orchard intersects with and is similar to New Road, the speed limit was reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph.
“The posted 35 mph speed limit is consistent with the projects planned for the area,” McLeod said.
DelDOT has plans to move Old Orchard Road’s intersection with Savannah Road east to line up with traffic signal at Wescoats Road. The project is slated to begin in 2022 with completion in 2024.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
