Sussex Drive upgrades get go-ahead in Lewes

Lewes Mayor and City Council have approved a pilot plan to manage traffic and parking on Sussex Drive.

The plan is aimed at giving relief to residents of Highland Acres, who have been trying to navigate around vehicles parked on the street and in their neighborhood for years.

Council decided to make the plan a pilot program, running from now until the panel’s public workshop in December. They will then make changes if necessary.

“Before the cement dries, we can get in there and tweak things to make sure everybody’s happy and it’s all working,” said Councilman Joe Elder.

Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell has met with residents and the school district about the proposal. He said a pilot plan makes sense.

“We have the elementary school down – we’ve handled that for years. [Fred] Thomas [Middle School] presents a new dynamic for us, so I think it makes sense to reevaluate,” Spell said.

The new plan includes:

• A center left-turn lane on Sussex Drive for cars entering the new Frederick D. Thomas Middle School

• A bypass lane on the right, so people going to Highland Acres can get by at peak pick-up and drop-off times

• No parking signs on both sides of Sussex Drive

• An officer stationed at Sussex Drive and Savannah Road during peak times, five days a week.

Cape Henlopen School District has already installed “no parking, stopping or standing” signs on the street. They were part of the site-plan approval for the school in 2021.

The plan calls for four or five parking spots on the west side of Sussex Drive near the Beebe Medical Foundation office. The foundation sent a letter to council requesting those spaces for its staff and visitors. Council could make a decision at its workshop and special meeting at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, at city hall.

Norma Morrison, one of the Highland Acres residents who has been pushing for a resolution, said she is happy with the plan.

“It’s a fair approach. It’s all about the efficient movement of traffic and people,” Morrison said.

Morrison had presented photos to council at a previous meeting showing the impact of people parking on Sussex Drive during weekend athletic events and the Historic Lewes Farmers Market in the fall.

Spell said the parking lots at Fred Thomas Middle School and Lewes Elementary School will be available during those times.

Mayor Andrew Williams expressed concern that parents might use Highland Acres as a holding area. He proposed possibly putting up temporary signs at the entrance to Highland Acres to remind people that it is a residential neighborhood and not to wait there.

“We’ve talked about setting habits in the early days of school,” Williams said.

DelDOT is planning to hold a public workshop in September to take comments on a proposed streetscape project on Sussex Drive that could include trees and more traffic-calming measures.