New 2nd Street On-Ramp to I-95 Southbound Opens

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that the new 2nd Street on-ramp to I-95 southbound in Wilmington has opened during the overnight hours on Wednesday, December 30. This was the first project related to the upcoming I-95 corridor rehabilitation project and was opened on schedule by contractor R.E. Pierson.

This nearly $20 million project, which began on April 15, 2020, removed the previous I-95 southbound on-ramps and bridge structures for the 2nd Street and Jackson Street ramps and built a new ramp configuration for access to I-95 southbound.

Additional left turn lanes have also been added on Lancaster Avenue to Adams Street and 2nd Street to the new reconfigured on-ramp. This new ramp will provide access to I-95 southbound for traffic leaving the city throughout the duration of the I-95 rehabilitation project while other ramps are closed for construction.

Traffic impacts for the I-95 rehabilitation project are scheduled to begin on Friday, February 12, 2021, with construction on the multi-year project beginning in March. For more information on the project visit restorethecorridor.com

Winter Weather Awareness Week – December 7-11

Smyrna, DE – As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, we must be reminded of the hazards winter brings. Every year, winter weather conditions such as snow and freezing temperatures cause deaths, injuries, illnesses, and property damage in Delaware. Last year’s mild winter is not an indicator of what’s to come this year, so the time is now to brush up on some winter weather terminologies and start preparing.  Being prepared can help save lives, prevent injury, and save money.  To encourage everyone to prepare for the impacts of winter, December 7 through 11 is Winter Weather Awareness Week.  

 

For Winter Weather Awareness Week, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and PrepareDE are partnering with the National Weather Service-Mount Holly, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), and the University of Delaware Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA).  During Winter Weather Awareness Week, participating agencies will provide information via social media, explaining the risks associated with various types of winter hazards (snow, ice, extreme cold, etc.) and provide tips on how to prepare for these extreme conditions.  They will also be sharing fun facts about past weather events in Delaware.   

 

During Winter Awareness Week, we encourage all Delawareans to become familiar with common risks during the winter months. Be prepared for snow and icy conditions that could impact travel on roadways, make sure you have emergency kits in your vehicle and at home, and ensure your home and vehicle are prepared for the extreme cold temperatures the state often experiences. Be prepared to bring your pets/animals inside in the event of a winter storm and freezing temperatures.  

 

While Delaware did not experience any significant snow or ice impacts this past winter season, DelDOT wants to remind motorists to slow down and adapt their driving to the road conditions, give our plows plenty of space on the roads, and take the time to remove snow and ice from their vehicles before traveling. The free DelDOT mobile app also provides access to more than 100 cameras statewide to view current road conditions before traveling.

 

“DelDOT has already begun preparations and will be ready to respond to any winter weather event. We encourage all motorists to take the time during Winter Awareness Week to assess the condition of their vehicles and be prepared for whatever this upcoming winter may bring,” offered Nicole Majeski, Acting Secretary of Transportation.

 

With COVID-19 cases on the rise and people moving indoors due to the colder temperatures, continue to practice COVID-19 precautions; wear a mask, avoid large in-door gatherings, self-quarantine and get tested if you have any symptoms or have come in contact with a someone who has COVID-19, and wash your hands often. 

 

To stay informed this winter, please utilize the following resources and give these agencies a “like” and “follow” on all social media platforms:  

 

National Weather Service-Mount Holly for weather conditions and will issues winter storm warnings: 

DelDOT to check road conditions before travel: 

DEMA 

PrepareDE for tips on how to be prepared this winter for and all hazards in Delaware: 

Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA) 

 

Follow Delaware Emergency Management Agency on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.

Oil Spill Cleanup of Delaware Bay Coastline Intensifies Today With Additional Resources Deployed

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and U.S. Coast Guard continued Thursday and Friday to spearhead a cleanup operation for the oil spill that has deposited blobs of oil called tar balls and oiled debris this week over a stretch of Delaware coastline extending from the upper Delaware Bay to the tip of the Atlantic Ocean. The cleanup operation intensified this morning with additional resources deployed by state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations.

More than 125 environmental professionals from DNREC, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), the Coast Guard and its environmental contractor, and the Delaware Bay and River Cooperative are expected to be engaged Friday in removing oil found littering beaches and rafting around debris offshore. The Delaware Bay and River Cooperative, a non-profit funded by industry in the event of an oil spill, dispatched an oil skimming vessel to remove oily debris seen Thursday afloat in the Bay. Tri-State Bird Rescue of Newark continued to play a key role in the cleanup coalition, investigating reports of wildlife impacted by oil and treating captured sea gulls and other wildlife that has been oiled in the water.

“We continue to mobilize our expert resources as the tides spread oil from the beaches back into the water and back on the beach,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin. “We are combing the beaches and, shovel by shovel, removing the tar balls and contaminated sand.”

The crews are manually removing oil patties and tar balls are being found on various locations along the coast. Approximately 21 tons of oily sand and debris, filling 1 ½ dumpsters, was removed from the affected areas as of 7 p.m. Thursday.

“We are grateful for our interagency collaboration with DelDOT and for the help from the Delaware Bay and River Cooperative enabling us take the cleanup onto the water,” Secretary Garvin said.

The city of Lewes Thursday closed its beaches temporarily due to oil that had come ashore and posed a threat to people and pets alike who visit them. DNREC closed the 4-wheel drive surf fishing crossing at Delaware Beach Plum Island Preserve, overseen by Delaware State Parks, so cleanup operations will not be hampered by vehicles tracking oil onto the sand.

While the oil spill cleanup continues, the Coast Guard and DNREC strongly advise the public not to handle any oily product found or attempt to assist affected wildlife along the shore, but to report these findings to DNREC’s environmental hotline at 800-662-8802 so the situations can be addressed by hazmat-trained professionals.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with DNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Deadline for Second Round of TIIF Grant Application Approaching

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is reminding interested businesses that applications for the next round of Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund (TIIF) grants will be accepted until Monday, November 16, 2020. A total of $12,501,000 is available for the second round of TIIF applications.

TIIF was established in 2019 to provide economic assistance for renovation, construction, or any other type of improvements to roads and related transportation infrastructure in order to attract new businesses to the state, or expand existing businesses in the state, when such an economic development opportunity would create a significant number of direct, permanent, quality full-time jobs.

The council’s first recommendations were made in June 2020, and seven projects totaling more than $7 million in grants were approved by Secretary Cohan and Secretary of State Jeff Bullock.

The members of the TIIF Council appointed by Governor Carney are Rob Book, Martin Nunlee, Cornelia Johnson, Mona Parikh, John Riley, Bill Strickland, and Joe Westcott, who serves as chair.  Representative Bill Bush and Senator David Sokola were appointed by their respective chambers to represent the General Assembly on the council.

More information on TIIF can be found at https://de.gov/TIIF.

DelDOT Calls Attention to Employee Injuries, High Number of Overall Fatalities

For the second time in two weeks, a DelDOT employee was seriously injured on Harris Road near Townsend in New Castle County yesterday while mowing grass. The employee was flown to the hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained and remains hospitalized. The driver was charged with driving without a license, not having insurance, and inattentive driving.

“We are seeing far too many people driving unsafely and now have had three employees injured in just the past two weeks by motorists not taking basic actions like slowing down when approaching our workers on the road,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan. “Beyond the safety of our employees, the number of overall fatalities happening on our roads is unacceptable. There is no excuse for it, and we are all responsible for our actions behind the wheel and will be held accountable for the injuries and damage that are caused by not being safe and courteous drivers.”

“Emergency responders and roadside workers put themselves at risk every day to help people who are in need of emergency assistance or whose vehicles are broken down,” said Cathy Rossi, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “To ensure safety, the best thing drivers can do is slow down significantly and when possible move over when they see flashing lights, further protecting emergency responders and those they are helping on the side of the road. Whether this is a police officer, ambulance, fire truck or someone fixing a tire or working on a tow, slow down, move away and change lanes to create safe space around them. Their lives are on your shoulders.”

Despite seeing several months of traffic volumes down 50 percent or more statewide, there have been 91 automobile fatalities as of October 1, which is just three less than the same time period in 2019. There have also been 19 pedestrian fatalities year-to-date, with the most recent occurring on September 30, compared to 22 at this time last year. October is designated as Pedestrian Safety Month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.