The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced that during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period 1,200,235 vehicle trips were totaled at the I-95 Newark, SR 1 Biddles Corner, and Dover Toll Plazas. It is estimated that more than $3 million dollars in revenue was collected by Delaware’s toll plazas during this time frame.

Click on the link below to see traffic counts at each toll plaza and a comparison of traffic totals over the past three years during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Toll Plaza Traffic Counts

Newport –  The Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) contractor, Mumford and Miller Inc., will be shifting the I-295 northbound traffic to I-95 northbound between Exit 5 and past the SR 141 northbound interchange beginning Thursday, November 30, 2017.

The lane shift will be in place at the following times:

• 8 p.m. Thursday, November 30 until 5 a.m. on Friday, December 1
• 8 p.m. Friday, December 1 until 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2

In addition, Exit 2/SR 141 southbound to I-295 northbound will be closed during these times.

Detour Routes:
I-295 northbound motorists will use the right lane signed for I-95 northbound and stay in the right lane of I-95 and then use the temporary crossover just past the work zone on the right to enter I-295.

SR 141 motorists traveling southbound to I-295 northbound will follow detour signs to Commons Boulevard to Churchmans Road to I-95 northbound to I-295 northbound.

Beginning Monday, December 4, I-95 northbound will be closing and shifting lanes to I-295 northbound during the following times:

• 8 p.m. Monday, December 4 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5
• 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 5 until 5 a.m. on Wednesday December 6

Detour Routes:
I-95 northbound motorists will use the right lanes signed for I-295 northbound and stay in the left lane of I-295 and then use the temporary crossover just past the work zone to re-enter I-95 northbound.

The nighttime lane and ramp closures are necessary as work continues on the SR141 bridges over I-95.

NEW CASTLE (Nov. 21, 2017) – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Delaware will host a statewide clothing drive Dec. 1-5, with donations in New Castle and Kent counties to benefit the Delaware Psychiatric Center and donations in Sussex County to benefit the ACE Peer Resource Center in Seaford.

In New Castle and Kent counties, the immediate clothing needs are men’s winter coats, pants, shirts and shoes, all sizes. Women’s clothing also appreciated. In Sussex County, the immediate needs are new or gently used outerwear, new socks, and new undergarments for men and women, all sizes. All clothing for women and men appreciated.

“We are grateful to NAMI for organizing this clothing drive to benefit clients at DPC and the ACE Peer Resource Center,” Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker said. “It’s important that vulnerable people have the dignity that comes with access to the appropriate clothing, whether it’s while they are a client, or when they transition back to the community.”

DPC, the public psychiatric hospital for Delaware, is operated by the Department of Health and Social Services. The ACE Peer Resource Center, a nonprofit with facilities in Seaford and Georgetown, focuses on recovery for people who are homeless, or have behavioral health needs or other challenges.

Collection sites, dates and times in New Castle and Kent counties:

• NAMI Delaware Office, 2400 W. Fourth St., Wilmington Dec. 1 and Dec. 4-5, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• UD STAR Campus, 540 S. College Ave., Newark. Dec. 1 and Dec. 4-5, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Delaware State Police, Troop 3, 3759 S. State St., Camden. Dec. 1-2, 9 a.m.-4p.m.; Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Dec. 4-5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Collection sites, dates and times in Sussex County:

• NAMI Delaware Georgetown Office, 7 S. King St., Georgetown. Dec. 1 and Dec. 4-5, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• La Red Health Center, 21444 Carmean Way, Georgetown. Dec. 1 and Dec. 4-5, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

As an alternative, individuals or groups can make a tax-deductible monetary donation to the clothing drive at www.namidelaware.org

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Roadway Safety Foundation have announced that Delaware is one of this year’s nine National Roadway Safety Award winners, which represent the nation’s best examples of innovation in highway safety. The biennial competition, which began in 1999, is an acknowledgement of successful approaches to improving roadway safety at the state and local level.

Delaware received the award for the use of a high-friction surface treatment (HFST) that can dramatically and immediately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities at locations where motorists brake frequently or where wet road surfaces reduce pavement friction, resulting in potential crashes. About 33,000 square yards of HFST has been installed at more than 20 locations throughout the state, reducing often-deadly roadway departure crashes by 56 percent.

In Delaware, roadway departure crashes accounted for 40 percent of all traffic-related fatalities from 2007 through 2014 and 21 percent of all serious injury crashes in the state.

“These awards recognize real and innovative solutions to some of the nation’s biggest safety challenges,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. “We commend Delaware for its efforts in saving lives and reducing injuries on our nation’s roads, and invite others across the country to put such life-saving solutions to work.”

“This recognition is a great example of how of our commitment to innovation is paying off and making our roads safer,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan. “I am extremely proud of our safety team that is led by Safety Program Manager Adam Weiser for their innovative work to develop a solution for a problem we see on roadways throughout the state.”

HFST is a type of ultra-thin pavement overlay that utilizes an epoxy resin or polymer binder and high-quality, polish-resistant aggregate. The additional skid resistance provided by this treatment allows motorists more opportunity to regain control of their vehicle, reduce their speed and stay on the roadway.

DelDOT has also begun evaluating intersection approaches where there are high rates of rear-end crashes to determine if the HFST can be installed to minimize skidding approaching stop-controlled and signal-controlled intersections.

Of the 32 applications this year, nine winners were selected. For complete details on each of the winners, and for more information on the national awards program, visit http://www.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadwaysafetyawards/.

As part of the ongoing US 301 Mainline Project, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced upcoming nighttime closures of SR 1 northbound for the installation of structural components for the new US 301 bridge over SR 1.

The SR 1 northbound closure between Pole Bridge and US 13 Northbound Free Ramp will occur on the following dates:

• 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28 until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29
• 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29 until 5 a.m. on Thursday, November 30
• 9 p.m. on Thursday, November 30 until 5 a.m. on Friday, December 1
• 9 p.m. on Friday, December 1 until 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2

During the nighttime closure of SR 1 northbound, the tolls on SR 1 northbound-Boyds Corner Toll Plaza will be waived.

Detour Route: Pole Bridge Road to US 13 northbound and return to SR 1 northbound.

Variable message boards will also be posted to alert motorists of the upcoming SR 1 northbound closure and detour signage will be posted for motorists.

For further information of the US 301 Mainline Project, please visit https://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/us301/

DelDOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) and WTMC-1380 AM provides motorists real-time traffic conditions throughout the state. Motorists can contact the TMC 24/7 to report any travel or traffic related issues at the following numbers: Dial #77 from any cell phone in Delaware.