DelDOT presents proposal for Milton trail connection

A packed audience attended Dogfish Head in Milton Nov. 12, for a presentation regarding a possible connection to the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail that would run through Milton.

“There’s no way to get to Milton safely,” said Jason King of Dogfish Head. “Fortunately, we have a lot of stakeholders in the community that are interested in getting this trail here.”

The Delaware Department of Transportation is looking to do a feasibility study on the trail, to both determine the best route and to put a cost figure on the trail. 

Paul Moser of DelDOT said such a study would cost $176,000, but at this time, DelDOT does not have that much in its budget. Moser gave a history of the trail system in Delaware, much of which was built with matching funds from the federal government. However, Moser said those funds have been frozen and are not accessible. Additional funds have been provided by Sussex County, the Joshua Freeman Foundation and Dogfish Head, but the effort is still $26,000 short. 

While the final trail layout has not yet been determined, a connection to Milton would start at Hudson Park at the intersection of Cool Spring Road and Route 9. Sara Bluhm of Sussex County Land Trust said efforts are currently underway to put a fence in at the park and to find a safe crossing across Route 9.

An unexpected speaker at the event was former Gov. Jack Markell. Despite getting a flat tire on his way down to the event, Markell said he wanted to be present, as building up Delaware’s trail system was a big priority during his time as governor. 

“We focused on this for three main reasons. 1. It’s obviously great exercise. 2. It's good for the environment. And 3. People want to live in cool places. We have found that the trails in Delaware have really brought people together,” he said.

Conceptual plans within Milton’s Active Transportation Plan, a joint effort between DelDOT and town officials, envisioned a network of bicycle/pedestrian access, enabling entrances to town via Harbeson Road, Cave Neck Road and Lavinia Street from the south, Union Street Extended to the north and Route 16 as an east-west route. 

Still, the first step for anything, Moser said, is getting the feasibility study done to provide a roadmap that will allow DelDOT to finalize a map, identify environmental impacts and put a cost to the project. Moser said this will put the department in a position to seek funding for the project. He said the goal is to begin the study in early 2026, with the study taking about a year to complete.

“We know there’s demand for this, and we’re thrilled to work with the community on it,” he said.