Five Points group discusses pedestrian bridges

There are only three crosswalks on Route 1 in the four-mile stretch between the Nassau bridge and Route 24. 

This has members of the the Five Points Working Group concerned for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists attempting to get from one side of Coastal Highway to the other. As part of its recommendations to the Department of Transportation, the group urged study of pedestrian bridges and the possible consideration of barriers in the Route 1 median to prevent people from crossing at areas other than a crosswalk. 

Jeff Riegner, a DelDOT consultant with Whitman, Requardt & Associates, presented the findings July 26 of a recent study to install pedestrian bridges over Route 1. After doing field analysis, he said there are only three places bridges are feasible. Cost and right of way are other factors that would have to be considered if DelDOT decides to move forward, he said. 

To zero in on appropriate locations for pedestrian bridges, Riegner said, the team looked at adjacent land uses, pedestrian demand at a specific area and the nearest crosswalk. Other factors included interference with electrical lines and available unused space for ramps and stairs.

The most logical places to erect bridges, Riegner said, would be at the Lewes Transit Center just south of Lowes and Five Points, at Dartmouth Drive near the Wawa and at Tanger Outlets Surfside in Midway. The study area only to Route 24, so locations were not considered any farther south.

For the Lewes Transit Center location specifically, Riegner said, it would address an area of demand with no opportunity because there are no signalized crosswalks between Nassau bridge and Dartmouth Drive, a two-mile stretch that includes Five Points.

Riegner provided several examples of pedestrian bridges found throughout the country. He said working groups members have made it clear that bridges would have to be aesthetically pleasing in addition to being functional.

The bridges would have to meet ADA requirements, so a low-grade ramp would likely be incorporated into any design. He said ramps could be accomplished with a long 5 percent graded ramp or via switchback ramps with landings if room is limited.

Riegner estimates a bridge would cost between $4 million and $8 million based on today’s prices.

Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, said pedestrian bridges are not feasible. He said the state had to buy road frontage all along Route 1 just to put in sidewalks several years ago.

“There is absolutely no room on either side of the highway,” he said. “The only way you could do it  – and you’d still have to buy right of way – is to use an elevator. You can’t put a ramp in there. Those bridges look nice and everything, but I think they’re unrealistic for our area. I’m not that much against them, but I’m just a realist.”

No decisions have been made regarding the bridges. If DelDOT chooses to proceed with one or more pedestrian bridges, they would first have a public workshop to gather feedback from the community.

Turn lanes evaluated

Riegner also provided an update on other work DelDOT is doing along the Route 1 corridor. At the request of Five Points Working Group members, DelDOT evaluated six turn lanes for possible lengthening. Of the six, DelDOT will consider improvements at three – Route 1 southbound at Dartmouth Drive, Route 1 southbound at Old Landing Road and Minos Conaway Road as it approaches Route 9. For Minos Conaway Road, DelDOT will add a right turn lane at the intersection with Route 9. DelDOT studied the need for a traffic light at the intersection and determined it was not needed at this time. 

Other intersections looked at include Route 1 southbound at Nassau Road both north and south of the Nassau bridge, and Route 1 southbound at Ames Road by the Rehoboth Beach CVS Pharmacy. The Nassau Road turn lanes were not considered because they will be eliminated as part of the Minos Conaway Road/Nassau bridge grade separated intersection project planned to begin in 2023. And while the Route 1 at Ames Road intersection backs up often, Riegner said, DelDOT did not consider lengthening the turn lane because a new traffic signal is planned at Holland Glade Road just to the north. When that light is installed, DelDOT expects the backups to dissipate. 

DelDOT said the project is ready to move forward, but they’ve run into right-of-way issues with a nearby developer. Marc Cote, DelDOT’s director of planning, said they’re working to get everything straightened out.

“We still hope it can be finished up in the next month or two so it starts construction in the fall,” he said, noting there’s a long ramp-up time for the project, so continued delays could push the project further out.

With an unknown schedule for the new signal, Schwartzkopf said the turn lane at Ames Road needs to be a priority.

“I don’t know that we can afford to wait two, three, four years to get that light and have those two lanes back up onto Route 1 all the time,” he said. “Why we haven’t had more accidents at that intersection, I don’t know.”

He also raised concerns about Shuttle Road at the same intersection. With added traffic from two restaurants, a grocery store, gas station and retail store, he said, congestion is a real problem at the intersection, particularly with people blocking the box.

Cave Neck/Hudson/Sweetbriar workshop coming

DelDOT officials announced that a public workshop is planned for this fall for the improvements to the intersection of Cave Neck Road, Hudson Road and Sweetbriar Road. The intersection is the first project in Sussex County’s Funding Accelerating Safety in Transportation Track funding program, a first-of-its-kind plan to use a set-aside of county funds to jump-start road improvements that are planned, but not imminent on DelDOT's six-year capital projects list. Under the program, Sussex County will provide funding to expedite the construction of road projects in the county. DelDOT will then reimburse the county the total amount as a project is completed.

No date has been set yet for the workshop and no plans have been released by DelDOT. However, in 2017 DelDOT presented several options for the intersection, including more than one with a roundabout.  

Coté retiring after 32 years

Marc Coté, DelDOT’s director of planning, announced at the July 26 meeting that he is retiring after 32 years with the department. Pam Steinbach, who is assistant director, will be the new director effective Monday, Aug. 2.

Coté was selected as DelDOT’s new director of planning in March 2020, replacing Drew Boyce who retired after 34 years with the state.

During his 30-year career with DelDOT, Coté has worked in road design and served as a project manager in corridor, quality and project management in the Division of Transportation Solutions. In 2005, he moved to the division of planning to become the subdivision engineer, and in 2012 was named assistant director of planning for development coordination.

Coté graduated from Lehigh University in 1989 with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. He has been a professional engineer for 27 years and is also a certified planner.