LEWES, Del.- One month after the New Road Master Plan was formally launched, the Delaware Department of Transportation presented schematics and improvement ideas to those in Lewes.

On Tuesday evening's public workshop, the agency explained its plans to widen parts of the road to 11-feet lanes with a 6-foot shoulder and add a 10-foot wide multi-use pathway. DelDOT Planner and Byways Coordinator Michael Hahn says drainage areas would divide the two and landscaping projects will also be part of the New Road Master Plan.

Hahn says impending development makes improving the road an imminent priority.

"With commercialized properties and residential properties you are going to see some changes, some increases in traffic," he explains. "Obviously from DelDOT's perspective there is a concern for safety. So we want to address not only the potential increased traffic volumes but the safety as well."

Hahn says DelDOT wants to reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour on portions of the road and improve the bridge over Canary Creek to address flooding concerns.

Llyod Schmitz says he looks forward to having reduced speeds along with sidewalk improvements to New Road. Schmitz and his seeing eye dog, Sophie walk along the entry way to Lewes every day.

"As it is now I cannot walk from Sand Dune Village into town because theres no shoulders and it's not safe for pedestrians and even where there are shoulders they're not real wide," Schmitz said.

Lewes City Manager Ann Marie Townshend says of the proposed improvements, one crucial DelDOT change will affect the Canary Creek bridge. While some neighbors have voiced concerns of more traffic affecting evacuation routes, Townshend says New Road is not an official route. But once improvements are made to lift the Canary Creek bridge up near 2020, it could become one.

Townshend says all of these changes coming to New Road do not have a definitive timeline. Each project will either be privately funded by developers or through DelDOT.

The schematics will be available online after the workshop and in person for review at Cape Henlopen High School until 7 p.m., with DelDOT's formal presentation and discussion running from 5:30 to 7 p.m. More information on the New Road Master Plan can be found here: http://www.wboc.com/story/39353088/new-road-master-plan-launches-in-lewes