Forecast delays opening of roundabout near Five Points

The long-awaited roundabout near Five Points is expected to fully open to traffic this week, Delaware Department of Transportation officials announced May 10. The recently installed traffic signal on Route 9 was activated May 10, and will remain flashing until the intersection opens. 

The plan was to open the Route 9 section Wednesday, May 15, but with heavy rain in the forecast, officials decided to postpone. The goal is to open by the end of the week.

After being closed for several months for construction, the roundabout partially opened April 19, allowing traffic to flow from Beaver Dam Road to Plantation Road, and vice versa. Access to the Henlopen Landing community from the roundabout was also opened April 19.

Over the course of the last month, crews have worked to finish the final pieces of the project, including a new road through the former Bests’ Ace Hardware property connecting southbound Route 1 with Route 9 in line with the new roundabout. 

The goal of the project is to improve safety and relieve congestion at an intersection that had gained the nickname Malfunction Junction. The awkward layout left many drivers confused, and the short connection from Beaver Dam Road and Plantation Road to Route 9 often resulted in backups. The new roundabout lengthened space between Route 9 and the other roadways. It also adds a through lane in the roundabout to keep traffic moving. The project also includes turn-lane improvements on Route 9 to avoid backups into the Five Points intersection.