Flashing beacon coming to Sweetbriar Road

A new flashing beacon is under construction at the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail crossing on Sweetbriar Road west of Lewes. 

The Delaware Department of Transportation is implementing a pilot program that will use state-of-the-art technology to alert motorists of approaching bicyclists and pedestrians. 

C.R. McLeod, DelDOT director of community relations, said advance video detection will automatically activate the flashing beacon as bicyclists or pedestrians near the intersection, providing drivers with advance notice to slow down or stop. The new beacon eliminates the need to press a button to activate flashing lights. 

The same video detection system will trip a control beacon on the trail, providing bicyclists or pedestrians a warning that they are approaching an intersection and may need to slow down or stop before safely proceeding across Sweetbriar Road. 

“While vehicles are expected to yield, we know that does not always occur, and pedestrians and cyclists need to be aware of any vehicles as they prepare to cross,” McLeod said. 

The new beacon, which costs $135,000, will be monitored for effectiveness before DelDOT moves forward with installation at other locations. 

The poles have already been installed, and DelDOT is waiting for the beacon equipment to arrive. McLeod anticipates the beacon will be active by summer 2022. 

The Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail is a popular multimodal path built on the bed of a former railroad track running from in-town Lewes to Route 9 in Cool Spring. The trail will eventually extend to downtown Georgetown. The latest phase of the project is under construction in Georgetown, taking the trail from the Georgetown Little League complex to Airport Road near Sussex Academy.

During the peak summer season, DelDOT estimates the trail has 800 to 1,000 daily users during the week and 1,000 to 1,300 daily users on weekends.