Lewes-area drivers may have noticed lowered speed limits on New Road, Kings Highway and Old Orchard Road.

In the last few weeks, the limit has dropped on all three roadways as the Department of Transportation seeks to improve safety and consistency among local roads.

C.R. McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations, said Kings Highway was dropped to 35 mph from Dartmouth Drive to Freeman Highway due to public concerns about safety, specifically regarding pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Lewes Mayor and City Council reduced the speed from 50 mph to 40 mph on Freeman Highway in 2018.

DelDOT tries to keep speed limits consistent when possible, McLeod said.

On New Road, the speed limit dropped from 45 mph to 35 mph from Nassau to the Canary Creek bridge. The 25 mph zone in Lewes was extended to the western side of the bridge.

McLeod said a speed limit study was initiated by the New Road Corridor Master Plan, an effort of the Historic Lewes Scenic Byway group. New signs were posted in mid-January.

Because Old Orchard intersects with and is similar to New Road, the speed limit was reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph.

“The posted 35 mph speed limit is consistent with the projects planned for the area,” McLeod said.

DelDOT has plans to move Old Orchard Road’s intersection with Savannah Road east to line up with traffic signal at Wescoats Road. The project is slated to begin in 2022 with completion in 2024.