DelDOT Promotes Safety & Awareness for Memorial Day Travel

I-95 Toll Plaza Construction Remains Congestion Point

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) encourages motorists to plan ahead as the Memorial Day Weekend and summer season gets underway. The Department is committed to safety and motorists should exercise caution while driving Delaware's roadways. Travelers headed to the beach can also use the DART First State Resort Summer Service and paratransit service, starting on Thursday, May 26.

DelDOT reminds motorists that the on-going I-95 Newark Toll Plaza Reconstruction project will have lane restrictions and reduced toll lane access. Motorists should expect delays and congestion on I-95, beginning Thursday morning, May 26 throughout the summer months. The anticipated completion date for this project is August 15. DelDOT recommends motorists to consider using alternative routes or travel during hours with lower traffic volumes.

Northbound and southbound toll lanes have been reduced as part of the construction. This reduction impacts both the manual cash lanes as well as the dedicated E-ZPass lanes. In both directions, there will be four manned and two designated E-ZPass lanes in operation.

DelDOT's Transportation Management Center (TMC) will provide continuous monitoring of traffic conditions across the state. Our radio station, WTMC-1380AM offers motorists with real-time traffic information in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.

As a reminder, the department will suspend road construction projects from noon on Friday, May 27 until 6 a.m., Tuesday, May 31 to ease travel to area beaches and Memorial Day events.

For the long distance traveler, the Smyrna Rest Area just off of Exit 119 on Route 1 is open 24 hours each day. There are snacks and sodas, restrooms, and an RV dump station for the convenience of campers.

DART First State will operate eight transit routes in the resort area serving Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick, Lewes, Georgetown, Long Neck and Ocean City, Maryland. Transit service, which will begin on Thursday, May 26, operates 7 days a week through Sunday, September 18. Early season hours of operation are reduced until peak season begins on Friday, July 1. A daily pass is available for $2.10, or park at the Rehoboth Park & Ride for $7.00 and everyone in the vehicle gets a free daily pass. The Route 305 Beach Connection linking Wilmington/Dover to Rehoboth Beach will operate on Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from Friday, May 27 through Monday, September 5. Bus stops include Rodney Square, Wilmington Amtrak Station, Christiana Mall, Smyrna Rest Stop, Scarborough Road Park & Ride in Dover, Super Wal-Mart in Milford, and the Rehoboth Park & Ride.

DART is coordinating with the Delaware River Bay Authority (DRBA) Cape May-Lewes Ferry Shuttle Service in Lewes to connect at the Rehoboth Park & Ride allowing ferry passengers to travel via bus around the resort area, and to Ocean City, MD. For more information on DART's Resort Transit, visit http://www.dartfirststate.com/.

For updated travel related information and live video of traffic conditions, visit DelDOT online at http://www.deldot.gov/.

The Delaware Department of Transportation advises all motorists to travel during off peak hours, allow extra time to reach your destination, slow down at toll plazas, and obey traffic laws.