New Toll Rates Take Effect on Friday, August 15, 2025

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) reminds drivers that toll increases take effect on Route 1, I-95, and US 301 at 12:00am on Friday, August 15, 2025.

An online toll calculator is available for customers to view the new toll rates for their vehicles when traveling through the state.

In addition to the toll rate change, we are also changing how customers are billed if they pass through an E-ZPass lane without an E-ZPass in Delaware. Instead of receiving a violation in the mail, the customer will receive an invoice to pay just the toll amount within 30 days. Only after 30 days will the transaction become a violation if not paid.

DelDOT will also continue offering free E-ZPass transponders for new customers who sign up by Sunday, August 31, 2025. Delaware E-ZPass customers will pay a lower toll rate on Route 1 compared to cash/non-Delaware E-ZPass customers. Delaware E-ZPass is available to all customers regardless of residency.

New customers who have not yet received their transponder in the mail should validate that their license plate is correctly listed on their E-ZPass account at acct.ezpassde.com/login.aspx to ensure that no violation will be assessed when traveling through Delaware tolls until their transponder is received.

This is also a good time for all customers to review their E-ZPass accounts and ensure that their contact information, payment method, and vehicle information linked to the account are correct.

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DelDOT Reminds Motorists to Respect Work Zones

Secretary of Transportation Shanté Hastings was joined by Representative Lyndon Yearick, Delaware State Police Lieutenants India Sturgis, Mark Dawson, and several DelDOT employees at the East Camden Bypass project in observation of National Work Zone Awareness Week.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is held each April at the traditional start of construction season when the number of workers on our nation’s roadways increases. The theme of this year’s work zone awareness campaign is, “Respect the zone, so we all get home.” The campaign features DelDOT workers who put their lives on the line daily while working within active traffic maintaining Delaware roads.

“Over the past three years, 65 DelDOT employees have been injured in work zone crashes and of those 65, 13 were seriously injured,” stated Secretary Hastings. “When you see the signs, when you see the flashing lights, when you see the barrels and cones, slow down, eliminate distractions, stay alert, and be extra cautious. By doing these things, motorists can help reduce work zone crashes on our roadways. Please keep our employees safe so they can go home to their families, too,” continued Secretary Hastings.

Although highway workers are often among the victims of such crashes, drivers must understand that four out of five victims of work zone crashes are drivers or their passengers. Generally, crashes occur when drivers speed through a work zone or do not pay attention to the changing road conditions and run into other vehicles, highway equipment, or safety barriers, or drive off the roadway completely. In a typical five-day work week, an average of seven motorists and one worker are killed nationwide. The primary causes of work zone crashes are following too closely and inattentive driving.

The National Work Zone Awareness Week began in 1999, when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement pledging to increase public awareness of work zone safety issues through a national media campaign. Since then, awareness has continued to grow, with state agencies and other organizations sponsoring high-visibility education and outreach initiatives.

Some simple tips for improving work zone safety include:
* When you see the “orange and black,” be extra cautious.
* Warning signs will let you know what to expect.
* Barrels or cones will delineate your path of travel.
* Flag persons will help direct you along the way.
* Avoid distractions.
* Don’t tailgate.
* Don’t change lanes.
* Slow down and expect the unexpected.
* Reduce speed when approaching toll booths.

For complete Delaware work zone statistics check out the Delaware Strategic Highway Safety Plan at https://deldot.gov/Programs/DSHSP/index.shtml?dc=work_zone_safety.

Anyone interested in becoming an advocate for eliminating serious injuries and deaths on our roadways can take the Be DelAWARE pledge at https://deldot.gov/Programs/BeDelAWARE/ and become a hero towards zero deaths on all roadways.


DelDOT Congratulates Name That Plow Winners

After receiving our first accumulating snow in nearly two years, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s “Name That Plow” contest!

The creative and fun names submitted by elementary school students across Delaware are a testament to their imagination and appreciation for the dedicated work of DelDOT’s snowplow operators and technicians.

The 2025 winners are:
Sussex County: Blizzard Wizard by John M. Clayton Elementary
Kent County: Plowana by Fairview Elementary
New Castle County: Ctrl Salt Delete by Jennie Smith Elementary

This marks the fourth year of the “Name That Plow” contest, which invites K-5 students to participate in celebrating DelDOT’s hard-working snow removal crews. Their efforts ensure safer roads for everyone during winter storms.

The Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shanté Hastings shared her excitement, saying: “We love seeing the creativity of Delaware’s young minds in this contest! Our snowplows and employees have been busy this January with back-to-back storms, and these clever names are a great way to honor their hard work and dedication to keeping our roads clear and safe.”

DelDOT has more than 400 pieces of snow removal equipment statewide and is responsible for treating and plowing almost 14,000 lane miles of roadway. Visit the DelDOT Snow FAQ webpage for details. DelDOT also offers its snowplow tracker during winter storm events on deldot.gov and the DelDOT mobile app.


DelDOT Preparing for First Significant Snow Event of Winter

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the entire state that will be in effect from late Sunday night to Monday night.

The department has 300 pieces of snow removal equipment and is responsible for nearly 14,000 lane miles of road in the state and initial efforts will be focused on clearing primary roads such as I-95, Route 1, Route 13, and Route 113. The objective is to keep primary roads passable, and drivers are advised to adapt their driving to the road conditions and avoid driving during the storm if possible. DelDOT cannot provide estimates on when specific roads will be plowed as conditions will dictate plowing operations.

Once primary roads are determined to be in passable condition, plow crews will move to secondary roads such as Route 9, Route 24, and Route 71, and then to local roads. We do not plow subdivisions with privately maintained streets or subdivisions within the Snow Removal Reimbursement Program.

DelDOT will be brining roads in Sussex County beginning Sunday morning. Routes 1 and 13 will be brined in Kent County from the New Castle County line to Dover. New Castle County roads were brined on Friday and no additional brining is necessary. DelDOT staff will be reporting ahead of the storm’s start to make additional preparations for the storm’s arrival.

The department has several resources available to monitor road conditions in real-time. The DelDOT interactive map, available on the deldot.gov website, and the DelDOT app provide resources such as 230 traffic cameras and the snowplow tracker that will be active throughout the storm event.

The “Frequently Asked Questions” webpage also provides additional information related to snow removal operations.

Downed trees and wires can be reported to the Transportation Management Center by calling (302) 659-4600, or #77 on cellphones.

DelDOT will post updates on Facebook, NextDoor, and X social media platforms throughout the storm event and issue news releases should driving restrictions be necessary.


DelDOT Receives Top Bond Rating and Announces Bond Sale

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. has assigned an Aaa rating to the Delaware Transportation Authority, their highest rating, and S&P Global Ratings assigned its second highest rating of AA+ long-term rating to the department’s $150.5 million series 2024 transportation system senior revenue bond sale that will be issued on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. To view the Notice Summary of Sale, click here. 

These rating services’ reports are important metrics for investors and having these top ratings ultimately means Delaware pays less interest on money borrowed to fund projects throughout the state.

Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski commented, “The work done by the DelDOT finance team led by Lanie Clymer ensures that the department’s financial management remains strong and these ratings affirm that we are responsibly managing our transportation system and its needs. Infrastructure work is expensive and these ratings help us maximize the dollars available to us to deliver our work.”

The series 2024 bond proceeds will be used to fund various capital projects for DelDOT’s capital program in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s provide independent rating opinions on the credit worthiness of public agencies and private organizations. These ratings are established to provide investors with information prior to the purchase of bonds from these public and private entities. The Delaware Transportation Authority (DTA) is the legal and financial authority under which the Department of Transportation issues its debt.