Drivers on several major local arteries will soon need to pay closer attention to their speed, as DelDOT announced that speed limits will be reduced as a result of a safety study.

The road safety audit concluded that speed limits should go down by five miles-per-hour (MPH) on three key stretches of roadway in the Wilmington, Pike Creek and Hockessin areas. The study was commissioned following a community uproar over truck traffic on Lancaster Pike (Rte. 48) and Newport Gap Pike (Rte. 41) three years ago.

Local concern over excessive, noisy tractor-trailer truck usage boiled over into outrage when, without notification or consultation, signs were installed diverting truck traffic onto Lancaster Pike into Wilmington.

A panel established to study the issue led to the SR 7/SR 41/SR 48 Road Safety Audit (RSA). The audit found, and DelDOT has agreed, that speed limits should be reduced on the following roadways:

Rte. 48 (Lancaster Pike) between SR 41 and Centerville Road, the speed will limit will be reduced from 50-MPH to 45-MPH.

Rte. 7 (Limestone Road) between the PA/DE state line and Brackenville Road, the speed will limit will be reduced from 50-MPH to 45-MPH.

Rte. 41 between SR 48 and Faulkland Road, the speed will limit will be reduced from 45-MPH to 40-MPH.

A DelDOT spokesman says new signs alerting drivers to changes “should be installed before the end of October.” The agency said that once that date is confirmed, it will put out notice that the new speed limit will be in effect.

According to the DelDOT spokesman, the Road Safety Audit is not yet finalized and will still need final approval from our Road Safety Audit Committee before it can be shared with the public.