As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) advises motorists to drive safely and expect heavy traffic traveling in and through the state. Last year, there were more than 973,000 trips made through Delaware’s three toll plazas from Friday, September 1 to Monday, September 4, 2017.

“Using good driving habits and obeying the rules of the road are critical any time you drive, and we want everyone traveling this weekend to enjoy the unofficial end of summer and reach their destinations safely,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

Motorists can increase their safety, and reduce the risk to others by doing the following:

• Always wear seatbelts
• Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Obey posted speed limits
• Do not drive distracted
• Do not drive aggressively

Following these five rules significantly decreases the likelihood of being involved in a crash as these are the leading cause of crashes involving serious injury or death on our roads. To date, there have been 71 crash-related fatalities on Delaware roads.

“Based on consumer confidence, steady gas prices, and the high volume of travelers we have seen this Memorial Day and Independence Day weekends, AAA expects to see more travelers on the roads this Labor Day weekend than we’ve seen in the past ten years,” added Ken Grant, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Before getting on the road, motorists can review real-time conditions by using DelDOT’s smartphone application. The DelDOT App is available for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, and can be downloaded free, by searching for “DelDOT” at the Apple and Google Play stores. Motorists can also listen to WTMC 1380 AM for updates on current road conditions.

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Jennifer Cohan has announced today that Jana Simpler has been hired as the new DMV Director and will join the Department on September 4, 2018.

Jana is currently the Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety (DE OHS). She started her career in highway safety in 1997, serving as the Deputy Director of DE OHS through 2009 and as the Director for the last eight years.

“We are excited to have Jana joining us,” said Secretary Cohan. “As Director of OHS, she is very familiar with DMV and DelDOT, and has done a terrific job promoting safety on our roadways over the past 20 years. I know she will set a great example for our more than 600 employees in DMV and tolling operations in continuing to meet our number one objective – delivering First Class Service to the First State.”

“I am very pleased to have been asked to serve as the Director of DMV. I look forward to the opportunity to lead an agency whose history of excellent customer service and strong commitment to its employees has led the agency to effect many enhancements in the last several years. I thank Secretary Cohan for the opportunity to join her team and focus on making Delaware’s DMV the best in the country.”

Simpler received her master’s degree in Public Administration from Wilmington University in 1997 and her Bachelors in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware in 1993, and lives in Milton with her family.

Scott Vien, who had served as DMV Director for the last three years, left the Department at the beginning of August for a new position in the private sector.

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Jennifer Cohan and Delaware Governor John Carney were joined by members of the state’s congressional delegation and local leaders as they cut the ribbon on the South Frederica Grade Separated Intersection (GSI) on Friday.

“Investing in infrastructure is a central part of our strategy to make sure that Delaware has a strong, growing, and globally competitive economy that works for all Delawareans,” said Governor John Carney. “Over the next six years, we are investing nearly $700 million to upgrade our roads and bridges in Kent County, and nearly $4 billion statewide. These investments will modernize our transportation system, create jobs, help attract even more businesses to Delaware, and ease congestion across our state.”

The project removed the at-grade intersection at Milford Neck Road and Tub Mill Pond Road and provided access to and from Route 1 via ramps. Frederica Road and Tub Mill Pond Road were realigned to create a new service road on the west side of Route 1.

“The completion of the South Frederica GSI marks another step in our progress toward a safer and more user-friendly Route 1 through Kent County,” said Secretary Cohan. “We continue to complete these GSI projects on Route 1 – at Route 9, North Frederica, Thompsonville, South Frederica and Little Heaven later this year – helping our residents and visitors have safer and easier travels to their destinations.”

“It is important that as Kent and Sussex Counties grow, we are able to keep State Route 1 at capacity and safely flowing. Here, we have a transportation project that has not only eased congestion, but also provided access to this fantastic Sports Complex that sees thousands of cars on the weekends,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Kent County is poised for growth, and one way to encourage economic development is by offering safe and reliable roads, highways and bridges. This project’s funding is shared by the state and federal government and is a great example of what we can do when we work together to improve our transportation infrastructure.”

“From tourists going to our beautiful beaches in the summertime, to year-round residential traffic, State Route 1 and the South Frederica corridor are critical components to economic development in Kent County and throughout the state,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “With the completion of the South Frederica project, the Delaware Department of Transportation is reducing traffic congestion, facilitating commercial growth, and making our roads safer for everyone living and visiting in Delaware. I’m proud to stand with Governor John Carney and Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan in cutting the ribbon to open this much anticipated project.”

“While the South Frederica Overpass was not initially planned for the DE Turf Complex it was essential for the project to happen. Without the interchange Delaware would not have realize the significant economic benefit from the DE Turf,” said DE Turf Chairman William Strickland. “To date, over 100,000 visitors from 33 states, Canada and New Zealand have come to the complex and importantly have stayed in our hotels, eaten at our restaurants and shopped in our stores. We are so appreciative of the great partnership that has been forged with DelDOT to see the South Frederica Overpass to completion and most importantly for the highly professional way they have managed safe travel for our guests.”

A-Del Construction served as the lead contractor on the $26.6 million project which broke ground in March 2016, and received $21.7 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The Division of Motor Vehicles will begin incorporating a medical indicator onto the Delaware driver licenses or identification cards as of Wednesday, August 8, 2018.  The medical symbol will be displayed on the front of the card and the back will identify the individual’s condition so that law enforcement officers and first responders can adjust treatment accordingly.

Delaware Secretary of Transportation (DelDOT) Jennifer Cohan was joined by State Representative Valerie Longhurst to announce the implementation of incorporating this essential medical information of Delaware residents onto their driver licenses and/or identification cards at an event at the Delaware City DMV.

State Representative Valerie Longhurst explained how the program was initiated: “A constituent came to me concerned about his son’s medical condition and how it could be misunderstood if an officer pulled him over while driving. It raised concerns about a larger issue that we wanted to address. A driver’s license has a lot of critical information that first responders need to know immediately, and knowing a driver’s medical condition someone will be invaluable in an emergency. This new voluntary program will give Delawareans the option to have their vital medical information easily accessible to first responders. I’m proud to have helped establish this new indicator on our driver’s licenses.”

Secretary Cohan added that, “A voluntary medical indicator makes a lot of sense for providing additional peace of mind for any of our customers who have a condition they would want a law enforcement officer or emergency responder to be aware of. This is another example of how the Delaware DMV is being responsive to our customers’ needs, and providing personalized service.”

Participating in this program is voluntary and there is no charge to have the indicator on the license or ID card. The customer would need to complete a form indicating their condition and sign it. The signed form gives the DMV permission to notate the condition on the back of the card along with the medical indicator on the front. The form can be obtained at any DMV location.

“The Delaware Trauma System operates under the saying, ‘Getting the right patient to the right facility in the right amount of time,’ said Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl T. Rattay. “Allowing Delawareans to voluntarily list a medical condition on their driver’s license or photo identification card is a valuable tool that will assist our first responders when providing care in the field during a medical emergency.”

Sergeant Richard Bratz, Public Information Officer for the Delaware State Police emphasized that, “The medical indicator on your Delaware Driver’s License or identification card is important to share with first responders especially those giving medical care or first-aid. It allows law enforcement to gain some insight on medical conditions like those drivers who may have a specific medical condition like; seizures, arthritis, insulin required, hearing impaired, visually impaired, PTSD or autism just to name a few.”

Statewide ADA Coordinator John McNeal added, “The voluntary Medical Indicator program can provide an invaluable safety net for people with disabilities and others to allow for prompt notification and awareness of medical conditions to all emergency responders. Voluntary information provided can help pave the way to accurately accessing an individual’s medical condition or disability which will assist first responders by providing an information sharing process that can potentially be lifesaving.”

Nick Fina, Chairman State Council for Persons with Disabilities, commented, “The availability of critical medical data to first responders can mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations. This is a great use of technology that will make a difference in the lives of Delawareans, especially individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities.”

For more information on the new medical indicator program please visit the DMV website at www.dmv.de.gov

Above: Newly completed 141 northbound lanes 

Contractor R.E. Pierson will begin the next phase of work on the Route 141 Centre Road project on Friday, June 29, 2018.

On Friday, June 29, traffic will be shifted into a new contraflow pattern on the newly reconstructed northbound lanes of the roadway allowing one lane of southbound traffic and one lane of northbound traffic. This will allow for the complete closure of the southbound Route 141 lanes from Route 100/Montchanin Road to Route 48/Lancaster Pike. Ramps from northbound Route 141 to Route 52/Kennett Pike north and south will also reopen. The traffic shift is expected to take place in the 8:00 p.m. hour Friday evening.

The $17 million project, which began in October 2017, is replacing the existing concrete roadway on this 1.4 mile section of Route 141 and on the Route 52/Kennett Pike interchange ramps, as well as replace concrete curbing, drainage, and guardrails. The work on Route 141 south is expected to be completed in November 2018 with two lanes of traffic restored for both northbound and southbound traffic.

Delays will be similar along Route 141 to what motorists experienced in the current phase of the project and DelDOT is strongly recommending that motorists continue to use alternate routes as major delays will persist into November 2018.

The ramp from Route 141 southbound to Route 52/Kennett Pike north as well as the ramps from Route 52/Kennett Pike north and south to Route 141 southbound will be closed for the duration of work to reconstruct the southbound lanes of the road. In addition, Barley Mill Road will also be completely closed just prior to Route 141. Detour routes will be posted.

DETOUR INFORMATION:
During the closures of the Route 52/Kennett Pike ramps located on the southbound side of Route 141 traffic will be detoured onto Route 100/Montchanin Road. During the closure of Barley Mill Road at SR141 traffic will be detoured onto Lancaster Pike and Centerville Road.

Motorists may adjust their routes or travel times by using DelDOT’s Smartphone application. The DelDOT App is available for Apple & Android smart phones and tablets, and can be downloaded free, search for “DelDOT” at the Apple and Google Play stores. With the DelDOT App you can view real time traffic cameras, travel times, delays, advisories, DART’s Real-Time Transit Information, and also listen to WTMC 1380 AM.