Sussex road projects should be prioritized

At a Five Points Working Group meeting in April 2019, state transportation officials outlined several recommended projects to be completed by the end of that year. Among those were short-term improvements at four Route 1 crossovers between Milton and Lewes. While changes were made at Cave Neck Road and Route 5, progress at the dangerous Hudson Road and Eagle Crest Road intersections has been far slower.

Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson voiced his frustration over the lack of progress at these critical locations during a Five Points meeting in January. We share Lawson’s concerns, especially regarding the Hudson Road crossover. Each day, hundreds of cars turn onto Hudson Road to head west toward Cave Neck Road or Route 9. Over the past decade, Hudson Road has become a busy thoroughfare, and high traffic volume plus fast-moving vehicles on Route 1 have created dangerous situations for drivers trying to cross. The result? Significant backups on Hudson Road during rush hour and a troubling number of accidents. Public crash data reveals more than 60 accidents at this intersection between 2011 and 2023.

Also, more than 25 crashes have occurred at the Route 1 intersection with Eagle Crest and Oyster Rocks roads. Given the range of activities held at Hudson Fields – including youth sports, concerts and festivals – a strong case can be made for prioritizing safety improvements at this intersection.

Lawson also expressed concern about delays in planning for a new route running from Mulberry Knoll Road to Route 9, parallel to Route 1 and Plantation Road. It would provide an alternative travel option for Cape Region drivers and help ease congestion. Unfortunately, the project won’t even enter the planning phase until 2029, meaning construction and completion are still years away. Given Sussex County’s rapid growth, local residents’ frustration and increasing traffic pressure, DelDOT should consider fast-tracking this critical project.

DelDOT has boasted about its investment of more than $1 billion toward projects in Sussex County – a welcome and much-needed contribution. However, since Sussex is the state’s fastest-growing county, it may not be enough. DelDOT and elected officials must allocate additional funds to ensure these roads are not only safe and up to standard, but also capable of handling current traffic and the higher demands expected in the next decade.