DelDOT holds Sussex Drive workshop

Sally Boswell wants Sussex Drive to look like the rest of Lewes, with trees and flowers lining the street that leads to her Highland Acres neighborhood.

“I wanted Lewes to reclaim Sussex Drive as a residential street so it didn’t look like no man’s land,” Boswell said. “I think what they’ve done now with the curbing and new signs makes it look more like you’re in the city.”

Boswell and many of her neighbors attended a Delaware Department of Transportation workshop on a proposed Sussex Drive streetscape project Sept. 12, at Lewes Elementary School.

The presentation features photos and diagrams of the new Sussex Drive traffic patterns and examples of tree plantings and traffic-calming features.

“I like what I’m seeing already,” said Ulla Moore, who lives on Sussex Drive in Highland Acres.

The Cape Henlopen School District just recently completed sidewalks and repaving along Sussex Drive ahead of the start of the school year.

The city then installed new features to try to manage peak traffic times for Frederick Thomas Middle School and Lewes Elementary School:

• A left-turn lane into the middle school for parents to use when picking up and dropping off students

• A bypass lane that allows anyone going to Highland Acres to avoid turning traffic

• No-parking signs and yellow-painted curbs on both sides of the street from Savannah Road to Highland Acres.

Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell said at the Sept. 9 mayor and city council meeting that, after four days of school traffic, the new configuration seemed to be working well, including the new entrance for school buses west of Sussex Drive.

“There hasn’t been a problem there. They have a school employee who is crossing-certified to get the buses out. They are in and out in probably 45 seconds,” Spell said.

Spell said he will give council monthly updates on how the new traffic pattern is progressing.

The DelDOT streetscape project is part of the Transportation Alternatives Program, or TAP.

The city received a $1 million federal TAP grant from DelDOT to improve Sussex Drive.

“The funds are available for safety, walking and biking, and beautification,” said Leah Kacanda, DelDOT senior project planner.

Kacanda said a cost estimate will not be known until the plan is finalized.

Residents were able to see proposals that include median crossing islands at the intersection of Savannah Road, Sussex Drive, and DeVries Circle.

“The islands have a couple of benefits: the crosswalk is 40 feet, you’re exposed to traffic for 40 feet. The islands reduce that to two steps. It also has the benefit of slowing traffic down because it feels tighter,” Kacanda said.

Julie Bercaw, who lives on DeVries Circle, said she would like a another safety measure.

“I would really like to see a crossing signal like the ones they have in Dewey Beach, especially with the increased use of the ballfields,” Bercaw said.

She also said she is seeing a lot more traffic on her street since the new middle school opened.

“We’re lucky to have these beautiful schools, but it does create more traffic. People do go pretty fast, and it does back up,” Bercaw said.

The project would also include beautification with native trees and plants. It might also include sprucing up the triangle at the entrance to Highland Acres.

DelDOT has an online survey available until Monday, Oct. 14, at publicinput.com/sussexdrive.

DelDOT will then develop a concept design, based on public comment, in October and November.

A public workshop will be held in November or December.

The final concept design is scheduled to be finished in early 2025.