Friends and neighbors,
I want to give you an update on several job-creating transportation projects underway in the 12th Senate District thanks to the $1.35 billion Bond Bill passed by the Delaware General Assembly in June – the largest infrastructure improvement and jobs creation act in Delaware history.
As the co-chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, also known as the Bond Committee, I successfully secured funding for dozens of critical infrastructure projects that will advance the safety and welfare of commuters, as well as the economic health of our state.
Below is a list of just some of the major Delaware Department of Transportation projects occurring in the 12th Senate District.
Be sure to click on the blue links for more information about each project.
Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12
Update on Major DelDOT Projects in the 12th Senate District
Boyds Corner Road, Cedar Lane Road to U.S. 13
Project Description: This project will improve Boyds Corner Road to four, 12-foot-wide lanes with 10-foot-wide shoulders and a 20-foot-wide median, using a combination of open and closed drainage systems, and building a 10-foot multi-use path on each side of the roadway.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2028
Project Update: Design is underway. This project is part of the Southern New Castle County Transportation Improvement District.
Cedar Lane, Marl Pit Road to Boyds Corner Road
Project Description: This project will widen the road to provide shoulders, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and replace of two bridges. Intersections at each end will be constructed under separate projects.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2028
Project Update: Design work currently on hold.
Dragon Run Tide Gates Replacement
Project Description: Replacement of tide units
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2023
Project Update: Design is underway.
Lorewood Grove Road, Jamison Corner Road to Del. 1
Project Description: This project will improve Lorewood Grove Road to add shoulders and a multi-use path on one side of the roadway, from Jamison Corner Road to Del. 1.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2027
Project Update: Design work is currently on hold as traffic projections related to the Southern New Castle County Transportation Improvement District (TID) are being re-evaluated as part of a regular TID update.
Del. 1 Widening, Del. 273 to the Roth Bridge
Project Description: Identify and prioritize cost-effective short, mid-and long-term transportation infrastructure improvements along Del. 1 from the Roth Bridge to south of I-95 that reduce congestion and travel times and improve safety, while minimizing environmental impacts.
Project Phase: Planning
Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Planning for the widening of Del. 1, including various interchange improvements, has been ongoing. A project of this magnitude takes many years of planning, environmental approvals, public outreach, design, and ultimately construction. Fortunately, DelDOT has been able to implement several smaller-scale upgrades while the larger project continues through the process. A virtual public workshop was held on October 27, 2021, to present the recommended preferred alternative and updates to the noise study and other environmental efforts.
Del. 72, McCoy Road to Del. 71
Project Description: Widen Del. 72 to four lanes, with bike lanes and sidewalks, and provide a center turn lane.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: 2024
Project Update: Construction for the utility relocation work began in March 2019 and was substantially completed in November 2021. Construction for the roadway contract is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2022.
Del. 9/Delaware Street (N-055) Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements
Project Description: This project in the City of New Castle will replace the existing hot mix at-grade crossing surface on Del. 9/Delaware Street, perform drainage improvements at the crossing, close Eighth Street at Delaware Street and improve both the railroad and roadway signals to improve safety, visibility and meet current standards. The closure of Eighth Street will prevent vehicles from stopping on the tracks while making turns and remove an intersection that is too close to the tracks.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: The proposed detour of Del. 9/Delaware Street will make use of Moores Avenue, Boulden Boulevard, DuPont Highway, and I-295. A public workshop was held in 2018 and meetings with the Town Council have been held in 2018 and 2019. Initial meetings were held with emergency management services but will continue as the project schedule gets closer.
St. Georges Streetscape Phase III
Project Description: The project will provide streetscape improvements along Broad Street within the town. Improvements to include repaired/replaced sidewalk, curb and curb ramps and improved signage.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2021
Project Update: The project is substantially complete.
U.S. 40/Del. 72 Intersection Improvements
Project Description: Reconstruct and widen the intersection of U.S. 40 and Del. 72 to provide operational and safety improvements.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2021
Project Update: The project is substantially complete.
U.S. 40 and Del. 896 Improvements
Project Description: Construct a grade separated interchange to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2026
Project Update: Design is underway for Alternative 1. A live virtual public workshop was held on September 22, 2020. Workshop displays are available on the project website.
U.S. 40, Salem Church Road to Walther Road
Project Description: Provide an additional travel lane in each direction and multi-use paths on U.S. 40 from Salem Church Road to Walther Road.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2025
Project Update: Design is underway. The proposed improvements were presented at a virtual workshop from May to June 2020. Workshop materials are still posted on the project website for those who were unable to attend.
Bridge Painting New Castle County, Del. 1 Overpasses
Project Description: Paint nine bridges along the Del. 1 corridor and one along Del. 71 in New Castle County. These include: Del. 72 over Del. 1, Kirkwood Street/Georges Road over Del. 1, Del. 1 over U.S. 13 (Tybouts Corner), Lower Twin Lane Road over Del. 1, Bayview Road over Del. 1, Del. 299 over Del. 1, Paddock Road over Del. 1, northbound Del. 1 over U.S. 13 (N. Smyrna), southbound Del. 1 over U.S. 13 (N. Smyrna), and Broad Street over Deep Creek (just north of St. Annes Church Road).
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2022
Project Update: The project was awarded to Allied Painting Inc. and is expected to start in early April 2022. Late evening/night-time single-lane closures will be required on Del. 1 to set up and break-down platforms as required.
Glasgow Avenue, Del. 896 to US 40
Project Description: The Glasgow Avenue project will implement a Main Street concept by reducing travel lane width, modifying shoulders, adding turn lanes and transit amenities, providing bicycle and pedestrian accommodation of both sides. Safety improvements at Old Country and Paxson Drive will also be included.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2027
Project Update: Project design began in early 2022. Survey work and other field work is ongoing. A public workshop is planned before the end of 2022.
School Lane Pathway
Project Description: This project will include the design and construction of a bike/pedestrian facility along School Lane from Del. 273 to an intersection point with the Pennwood development.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2023
Project Update: Design is underway.
U.S. 13, U.S. 40 to Memorial Drive Pedestrian Improvements
Project Description: Improve pedestrian facilities and safety along the US 13 corridor.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2025
Project Update: The project has been divided into several phases in order to expedite the overall implementation. Pedestrian facilities between Boulden Boulevard and Rogers Road have been completed as part of a pavement rehabilitation project in early 2021. The U.S. 13 Lighting project between Llangollen Boulevard and I-495 was completed in 2021. Some of the lighting is not yet operational due to electrical service issues, which should be resolved soon. The U.S. 13 Median Treatment project is currently in design and DelDOT expects construction to start in late 2022. The U.S. 13 Paving & Pedestrian project between Llangollen Boulevard and Bacon/Boulden Boulevard is also in design and we expect construction to start in late 2023.