New Route 1-Route 16 overpass work scheduled to begin in March

The Delaware Department of Transportation is eyeing a March 28 start date for building a new overpass at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 16 in Milton.

DelDOT plans to build an overpass with dual bridges crossing over Route 1. The project also calls for entrance and exit ramps to and from Route 16, turn lanes on Route 16 at the ramp intersections, realignment of the intersection at Route 1 and Deep Branch Road, and installing lighting and stormwater management facilities. 

DelDOT has set a Tuesday, Jan. 25 deadline for bids to be received.

What the effect of construction will be on traffic is unknown. DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod said, “Pre-construction planning is currently in progress, and we’ll be able to share more specifics as the project start date nears.”

The project is part of the department’s efforts to improve the Route 16 corridor, which has become one of the main east/west routes across the state along with Route 404. 

At a presentation to Milton Town Council Dec. 6, DelDOT planner Jennifer Cinelli-Miller said the department began its Coastal Corridors Study in 2019 after Maryland widened Route 404. 

“We were kind of concerned about how that was going to impact Delaware’s roads. We wanted to find out how people are coming across the county, especially with the apps they can use to use back roads,” she said.

So far, DelDOT has found that people generally stick to Route 404 and Route 16, although the study will not be complete until 2022. Milton is affected by all this traffic since the town is the last stop prior to Route 1. 

Cinelli-Miller said Milton is one of the department’s primary focus areas, especially considering increased development is ongoing. She said DelDOT wants to work with the town council to stay up to date on changes to traffic patterns in Milton.

Councilman Sam Garde asked Cinelli-Miller about truck traffic and keeping large trucks on routes outside of town as much as possible. She said while truck routes are usually the purview of the municipality, DelDOT will work with the town to develop truck routes and fund signage as much as possible. 

“We have that problem statewide. The municipalities have complained. We hear you. We don’t want you to have that struggle. We plan to work on some ideas that we can get to you hopefully late next year, early the next year,” Cinelli-Miller said.

The reason for the lateness, she said, was because DelDOT does not get its funding for the year until July 1. 

Mayor Ted Kanakos suggested having Councilwoman Randi Meredith, who chaired the Milton Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Committee, serve as a liaison to DelDOT on traffic issues.