Two Sussex County legislators say they have heard the same complaints over and over about roads and traffic in the Long Neck area. Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, and Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, joined forces to bring state officials to an Aug. 20 meeting to promote better communication with Long Neck residents.

“We had a come-to meeting in early June with DelDOT and told them here are the concerns we are continually hearing,” Briggs King said.

However, it appeared many of the 200 residents attending the meeting at Long Neck Elementary School left with more questions than answers.

Although a Delaware Department of Transportation safety engineer provided residents with an update on studies in the area and proposed low-cost safety improvement projects, little information was shared on road and intersection improvement projects.

Residents want to know how DelDOT officials will improve traffic flow and relieve congested intersections as the rapid pace of development occurs.

One resident said she appreciated the new Harbeson Road-Route 9 intersection improvements and the roundabout on Zoar Road, but questioned why other problem areas are not being addressed. Other residents talked about the long delays experienced on Route 24 in the Millsboro area.

Residents also wanted to know how they could influence decisions on area subdivisions. They were told to contact Sussex County officials with concerns about land-use decisions and pending developments.

Not discussed but planned road work in the Long Neck area or along Route 24 includes developer-funded intersection improvements at Route 24 and Hollymount Road, including a possible traffic signal, widening of Route 24 between Route 1 and the Love Creek bridge, and a DelDOT improvement project at Route 24 and Angola Road.

Troop 4 Commander Capt. Bill Crotty talked about crashes and thefts in the area. Troop 7 Commander Capt. Darren Short was also in attendance.

Safety improvements planned

Peter Haag, DelDOT traffic studies manager, offered a detailed and technical presentation on studies conducted on five traffic corridors in the Long Neck area: Route 5/Harbeson Road/Indian Mission Road; Mount Joy Road; Zoar Road; Harmons Hill Road/Phillips Branch Road and Hollyville Road/Hollymount Road.

Haag said DelDOT officials rely on residents for information on road and traffic conditions. “We can't be on every road all the time,” he said. “You are my client. You are my eyes and ears.”

He said information can help safety engineers better analyze why crashes occur and what safety measures to take.

He said the department’s goal is to reduce the number of crashes, especially fatal crashes.

Haag said a series of studies over the past decade have initiated safety improvements. “We want to turn these over as quickly as possible. We've scheduled a lot of improvements,” he said.

Among improvements are replacing damaged and missing signs; larger stop signs and stop ahead signs at key intersections; installing missing street signs; more reflective pavement markings; and more warning signs for bike lanes and intersections on curves.

He said several roads frequented by aggressive drivers will be changed from passing to no-passing zones. In addition, he said, reflective delineation marker posts will be placed at some intersections to stop motorists from passing on the right on shoulders.

Haag said the speed limit will be changed from 50 mph to 45 mph on sections of Mount Joy Road, Zoar Road, Harmons Hill Road and the entire corridor of Hollyville Road/Hollymount Road.

In addition, he said, DelDOT staff will investigate removing vegetation at Route 5 and Beaver Dam Road and around signs on Hollyville Road and Hollymount Road. Staff will also look at possible improvements to reduce the dropoffs along the edge of Route 24 and Mount Joy Road.

Crash rate is decreasing

Crotty said crashes are DSP's challenge, particularly in the Route 1 corridor in the beach area where the majority of the county's crashes occur. He said, overall, the number of crashes statewide is decreasing compared to last year. He said 35 percent of the state's crashes occur in Sussex County.

So far this year in Sussex County, DSP has reported 2,738 crashes, a 4 percent decrease from 2018. Fatal crashes have dropped from 15 to 9 year to date, but property damage and personal injury crashes have increased slightly.

There have been 23,231 traffic arrests so far this year, an increase of 12 percent from 2018. Arrests for DUI have fallen from 611 in 2018 to 573 so far this year.

The dividing line for Troop 4 in Georgetown and Troop 7 in Lewes is Route 5, with most of the Long Neck area assigned to Troop 7 and the area around Oak Orchard assigned to Troop 4.

DSP commander: Lock vehicles

While thefts are at a 15-year low, said Crotty, they are still the biggest crime problem in the Troop 4 and Troop 7 areas. He said this year there have been five crime sprees in the Oak Orchard-Long Neck area, all involving thefts from unlocked vehicles. Crotty said all the crimes have been solved.

“Thieves are looking for an easy victim. Please, please lock your car,” he told residents.

So far this year, there have been 380 reported thefts in the Troop 4 area compared to 386 in 2018.

County-wide, thefts have dropped 11 percent year to date from 1,414 in 2018 to 1,260 this year. Burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts have also decreased, according to DSP data.

What fire police do

Delaware State Fire Police member John Hall said most people are not aware of the role of volunteer fire police at emergency scenes. In addition, he said, most people are not aware that fire police have arrest power while in service. “We have to keep people away from the scene to make it safe for the first responders,” he said.

Fire police respond with fire departments at fire and vehicle crash scenes. Under state law, he said, motorists are required to move over when being approached by fire police vehicles using blue flashing lights.

CONTACT INFORMATION

www.DelDOT.gov to report an issue, get updates on projects

Transportation management center, manned 24 hours, 302-659-4600

peter.haag@delaware.gov

Troop 4 – 302-856-5850

Troop 7 – 302-644-5020

DATA ON AREA CORRIDORS

Route 5/Harbeson Road/Indian Mission Road – 4,500 to 6,500 vehicles per day; 153 crashes: one fatal, a second under investigation; 41 crashes with personal injuries; 111 with property damage

Mount Joy Road – 3,200 vehicles per day; 85 crashes: 1 fatal; 8 crashes with personal injuries; 76 with property damage

Zoar Road – 4,200 to 7,300 vehicles per day; 133 crashes: 35 with personal injuries; 98 with property damage

Hollyville Road – 3,200 to 4,200 vehicles per day. Hollymount Road – 2,600 vehicles per day; 110 crashes, both roads: 23 with personal injuries; 87 with property damage.

Source: DelDOT crash data Aug. 2, 2016, to Aug. 2, 2019