Old Orchard Road realignment underway
After years of planning, dirt is finally being moved for the realignment of Old Orchard Road east of Five Points near Lewes.
A nearly $11 million bid was awarded to A-Del Construction in August for the project that is expected to take three years to complete. The road project – which will cost more than $28 million when adding in design and right-of-way acquisition costs – aims to eliminate or improve awkward road intersections in the area, and create pedestrian and bicycle paths. The federal government will pay for 80% of the project cost, with the state covering the balance.
A major component of the project is moving Old Orchard’s intersection with Savannah Road northeast to align at the already-established signalized intersection with Wescoats Road. When complete, the existing intersection will be closed and traffic rerouted on the new road. The existing section of Old Orchard Road will be made into a dead end to continue allowing access to the businesses in that stretch.
The other component of the project is improvements to the Wescoats Corner area south of Savannah Road, including a new roundabout at the intersection of Wescoats and Marsh roads. The intersection of Marsh and Clay roads will also be changed to improve safety.
To view the plans, go to deldot.gov/projects.
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.
