Friends and neighbors,

Several job-creating roadway and construction projects are underway in the 9th Senate District, with more just around the corner thanks to the $1.35 billion Bond Bill passed by the Delaware General Assembly in June – the largest infrastructure improvement and jobs creation act in Delaware history.

As a member of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, I have worked hard to deliver for the 9th Senate District and our state.

Below is a list of just some of the major Delaware Department of Transportation projects occurring in the 9th Senate District, along with an update on the neighborhood paving projects planned over the next year.

Click on the links below for more information about each project.

Sincerely,

Jack Walsh
Senator, District 9

9th District DelDOT Updates

BR 1-159 on James Street over Christina River

Project Description: Bridge replacement
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: 2022

Project Update: Mumford & Miller Concrete began construction on December 2, 2019. The contractor has installed erosion & sediment control devices, cleared the work area, and installed construction fencing. Several utilities will now relocate their facilities over a 10-month timeframe. Once the utilities are relocated, Mumford & Miller will construct the new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. Two weekend closures of the road will be required during construction and will be coordinated with area businesses and the traveling public closer to that time.

New Castle County Transit Center

Project Description: Construct a new DART transit facility, including a park & ride, near the Christiana Mall. The project will include roadway connections from Center Boulevard to Churchmans Road. All new infrastructure will also provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD

Project Update: Concept design is underway.

Road A / Del. 7 Improvements

Project Description: Construct a new bridge adjacent to the existing Road A bridge to provide additional capacity between Center Boulevard and Del. 7.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Spring 2021

Project Update: The project is substantially complete

Del. 1 widening, SR273 to the Roth Bridge

Project Description: Identify and prioritize cost-effective short, mid- and long-term transportation infrastructure improvements along Del. 1 from the Roth Bridge to south of I-95 that will reduce congestion and travel times and improve safety, while minimizing environmental impacts.
Project Phase: Planning
Projected Construction Completion: TBD

Project Update: Planning for the widening of Del. 1, including various interchange improvements, has been ongoing. A project of this magnitude takes many years of planning, environmental approvals, public outreach, design, and ultimately construction. Fortunately, DelDOT has been able to implement several smaller scale upgrades while the larger project continues through the process. The new auxiliary lane on southbound Del. 1 between Del. 273 and U.S. 40 is open. A virtual public workshop was held on November 19, 2020. Workshop materials are posted on the project website for those who could not attend. Additional public outreach efforts are anticipated later this year.

HEP NCC, Del. 2 Capitol Trail at Darwin Drive Intersection Improvements

Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2022

Project Update: The project is in design.

Rehabilitation of Bridges 1-242, 1-362, and 1-406

Project Description: Spray liner for bridge rehabilitation
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2021/2022

Project Update: Design is complete. Construction was anticipated to begin in Fall 2021.

Pavement and Rehabilitation, North IX, 2019

Project Description: This contract includes the mill and overlay of I-95 generally in the area of Churchmans Marsh. The work in the southbound direction extends from I-495 to Del. 1 (skipping the section near Del. 141 that will be improved by a separate project). The work in the northbound direction extends from Del 1 to Del. 141. The project will also widen the southbound I-95 ramp to Churchmans Road to two lanes and signalize that ramp connection at Churchmans Road. This upgrade is expected to reduce the chances of traffic from this ramp backing up onto I-95.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2020/2021

Project Update: The project is substantially complete.

Del. 2/Red Mill Road Intersection Improvements

Project Description: Provide safety and capacity improvements at the intersection.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: 2024

Project Update: Right-of-way acquisition is underway. Design is progressing. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022.

Del. 4/Harmony Road Intersection Improvements

Project Description: Improvements include adding turn lanes and geometric improvements; and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements.
Project Phase: Design 4 DelDOT Quarterly Legislative Update
Projected Construction Completion: 2026

Project Update: Alternatives to be developed starting in 2021

HSIP NCC, Del. 273 and I-95 Interchange Improvement

Project Description: Relocate the I-95 southbound ramp to Del. 273 westbound and provide a signalized intersection to improve safety.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Summer 2022

Project Update: Construction began in March 2021. Work is progressing on guardrail upgrades, new drainage, and the new stormwater pond. Phase 2A of the project, which will limit westbound Del. 273 to one through lane, is expected to last into early September 2021. The westbound SR 273 ramp to southbound I-95 is currently closed and detoured as part of the Phase 2 work

Del. 273 / Chapman Road Intersection Improvements

Project Description: This project includes widening the westbound Del. 273 ramp to northbound I-95 to include an additional lane. The two left turn lanes from northbound Chapman Road will be restriped to turn into the ramp lane and a choice lane. Along the I-95 ramp, the two lanes will merge together as a zipper merge.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Winter 2022/2023

Project Update: Design is underway. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2022, following the construction of the current I-95/SR 273 construction project.

Delaware Avenue Separated Bikeway – Orchard Road to Library Avenue

Project Description: This project provides a two-way separated bicycle facility along Delaware Avenue between Orchard Road and Library Avenue that will accommodate both eastbound and westbound bicycle travel.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: Fall 2022

Project Update: Final design is nearly complete and right-of-way acquisition began in Summer 2020.

Del. 4, Ogletown Stanton Road/Del. 7, Christiana Stanton Road Phase I, Stanton Split

Project Description: This project will address capacity issues at the Del. 4/Del. 7 Stanton Split intersection by adding turn lanes and other geometric improvements. The project will also include pedestrian and transit facility improvements.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD

Project Update: Traffic analysis and development of alternatives are currently being reviewed.

Neighborhood Repaving Projects

The Delaware General Assembly created a new program in 2019 to help repave more local neighborhood streets and ensure the safety of our community streets. The program prioritizes the worst-rated roadways with an emphasis on streets near schools, libraries, post offices and the entrances to neighborhoods.

The Joint Capital Improvement Committee dedicated a record $30 million toward the Pilot Subdivision Paving Program this year.

Here in the 9th District, 17 neighborhood roadways are slated for repaving in the coming year.

• Hillside Heights – Greentree Road from Grayrock Road to Brownleaf Road
• Roseville Park – Chestnut Avenue from Polly Drummond Hill Road to Laurel Avenue
• Rutherford – Rolling Drive from Ogletown Stanton Road to Rutherford Drive West
• Green Valley – Valley Drive from Green Valley to Valley Circle South
• Heritage Farms – Wittier Dive from Whitman Drive to Bryan Drive
• Village of Drummond – Holt Road from Chadd Road to Dewalt Road
• Sycamore Gardens – Hudson Drive from Brewster Drive to Mc Cann Road
• Greenleaf Manor – Dempsey Drive from Sullivan to the cul-de-sac
• Harmony Hills – Tamara Road to Durso Drive
• Eastburn Acres – Ellsworth Drive from Madeline Drive to Marta Drive
• Crossan Pointe – Berry Drive from Crossan Court to Crossan Court
• Woodmill – Woodmill Drive East from Woodmill Drive West to end of road; Musket Road from Brownleaf Road to Gerald Drive
• Birchwood Park – Flintlock Road from Birchwood Drive to Gerald Drive
• Pinecrest – Huntington Drive West from Wyncote Drive to Kirkwood Highway
• Woodmill Section II – W Zabenko Drive from E Zabenko to the cul-de-sac
• Greenbridge – Hobart Drive from Old Newark Road to the end of the road