Delaware DOT Reroutes Truck Traffic After Complaints

The signs are down, but the issue of truck traffic in Delaware along the Route 41, Route 48 and Route 7 corridors remains a concern for area legislators.

The signs, which were placed at the intersection of Lancaster and Gap-Newport Pike last June, were removed at the beginning of the month, according to Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan.

In an e-mail sent to numerous area legislators dated Dec. 1, Cohan said that after a petition with 1,100 signatures, along with a request for a new open public process to revisit the truck traffic along all three corridors, the department elected to remove the signs in December.

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At a meeting last October, residents along Route 48 (Lancaster Pike) and Route 41 (Gap-Newport Pike) expressed concern and disdain over DelDOT's decision to install signs instructing all truck traffic headed for routes 95 and 295 to take Lancaster Pike.

Although the vehicles cannot legally be banned, the signs sought to "restrict" 18-wheeler traffic along Gap-Newport Pike.

At the time, Cohan said that the signs would remain in place until a traffic study was completed and reviewed.

State Sen.-elect Anthony Delcollo (R-Marshallton) is working to co-sponsor a joint resolution to establish a special committee to study and make recommendations regarding truck traffic and freight movements along routes 41, 48 and 7 in New Castle County.

Delcollo said he hopes to have the bill, co-sponsored by State Sen. Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley), Rep. Gerald Brady (D-Wilmington) and Rep. Kimberly Williams, introduced and approved as early in the 149th legislative session next month as possible, according to a press release.

Delcollo said that complaints about the traffic often were heard during his 2016 campaign, and it is one of the issues he promised to address.

He added that forming the joint committee is an important step toward finding a solution to those concerns.

"Most importantly, all positions will be heard, all solutions considered, and any decisions, agreed upon by both communities. This process will be transparent with the specific exclusion of elected officials," Decollo said.

In an e-mail to area legislators, Cohan said the signs would remain down while the special committee conducts its work.

During that time, Cohan said DelDOT would continue to pay for the additional truck enforcement along routes 41 and 48 and will conduct periodic traffic counts to assist the committee.

"We will also conduct another round of traffic counts in the spring," she said.

The committee, as the draft resolution is now written, will include representatives from the Port of Wilmington, local civic associations, Delaware State Police Truck Enforcement Unit and DelDOT, according to the press release.

Lavelle said that, as the resolution is currently written, regional traffic planner WilMapCo will monitor and operate the meetings to avoid conflict with the state agencies.

"DelDOT has a place on the committee but will not run the meetings," Lavelle said.

The special committee will be tasked with making recommendations by June 1.

"The department also sees no need for additional public meetings until the resolution is passed and the committee begins its work," Cohan said.