DelDOT Delays US 301 Meeting

State transportation planners have postponed a public update on U.S. 301 toll road plans, scheduled for Wednesday, citing an ongoing state of emergency and uncertain demands for agency services after the weekend passage of Hurricane Irene.

Officials still hope to prepare a semifinal financing and toll plan for Gov. Jack Markell's review in December that will make the $747 million highway self-supporting between west of Middletown and the Roth and Summit bridges on Del. 1 and Del. 896. Work could begin by mid-2012.

State lawmakers directed the agency to move ahead with the project in phases last year, starting with the 14-mile, four-lane mainline from the state line west of Middletown to Del. 1 south of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Construction of a two-lane, 3.5-mile "spur" toll road linking the mainline to Summit Bridge could follow, based on traffic needs.

Out-of-state vehicles, many moving between the state line and I-95, are expected to pay 70 percent of the tolls collected along the road, with trucks accounting for 40 percent.

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