DelDOT breaks ground on Malfunction Junction project
With hundreds of vehicles whizzing by in the background Feb. 15, state and local officials broke ground on a major transportation project in the Five Points area.
The ceremony celebrated the beginning of work to improve the Malfunction Junction intersection of Route 9, Plantation Road and Beaver Dam Road just west of Five Points. When complete in spring 2025, the $11 million project will add a new access road through the former Bests’ Ace Hardware property to the existing Route 9 signalized intersection. On the southern side of the intersection, an extended connector road will lead to a new multi-lane roundabout to be built in a currently undeveloped green space between Lowe’s and the Henlopen Landing community. Other improvements include two left-turn lanes on Route 9 toward the roundabout and dualization of Plantation Road from the roundabout to just south of Shady Road.
Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Nicole Majeski credited the Five Points Working Group for highlighting the need, and bringing the community together to talk about issues related to safety and traffic in the Five Points area.
“One of the top-priority projects identified was the improvements at Plantation [Road],” she said.
Majeski thanked Delaware’s congressional delegation for continued support, as 80% of funds for transportation projects typically come from the federal government. She also thanked the General Assembly for its support, including former Sen. Ernie Lopez, who was an active member in the working group and a supporter of the project.
Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, has also served as a member of the working group since its inception in 2017. Harkening back to his days as a state trooper, Schwartzkopf said there were several Route 1 committees that would study things to death, but wouldn’t get things done. That has not been the case for the Five Points Working Group, he said.
As for the project at hand, he said, it is long past due.
“Nobody knows what this intersection is called except for the affectionately named Malfunction Junction, which really is appropriate,” he said. “It’s with great pride that I’m part of this thing and that we’re going to make this intersection more functional, and make it a lot safer and a lot less frustrating for all people, especially the residents who live here full time.”
Rep. Stell Paker Selby, D-Milton, said she’s happy to see something finally done to improve the Five Points area.
“These were my stomping grounds as a child, and it makes me feel good to see things are getting done to make it a safer place,” she said.
Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, said the project is a great collaboration among Sussex County officials, DelDOT and the federal delegation.
“We’re looking forward to additional collaboration as we see [more] investments made in this area in regard to transportation,” he said.
The Cape Gazette published a story in the Feb. 10 edition with full details on the upcoming work, including the project timeline. To read that story, go to https://tinyurl.com/82bype3j.
