“Beach Baby, Beach Baby, There on the Sand” 

Challenge: More than 28 million people—about the population of Texas— visit the Delaware coast each year. Quaint towns and pristine sand are a dream for travelers. But the clogged road that leads to this oceanside oasis is less enjoyable. Cars entering and exiting the highway at Route 1 and Route 16 in Milton create major traffic jams. That area also has one of the highest crash rates along the corridor.   

Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure law, the state is moving forward with a plan to solve the problem. The project calls for replacing the outdated stop light intersection with two new bridges that will carry Route 1 traffic over Route 16. It also calls for new on- and off-ramps and the realignment of another intersection just north of Route 16. When complete in late 2025, drivers will be able to go from I-95 to Five Points without hitting a traffic light. Like the song and for those seeking the surf and sand, a safer, more reliable vacation is just ahead.   

What they’re saying: “Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Bridgeville, said he’s heard from the first responder community that improvements at the intersection are vital. ‘This is a big deal, and we need to move forward,’ he said. The fact that 80% of the project is federally funded makes it a no-brainer…Anytime we can get money out of Washington to make something happen in Sussex County, I’m all for it,’ he said.” (Cape Gazette, 11/07/2023)