SR 273 & I-95 Interchange Improvements Project

Nobody likes traffic. When you’re running late and desperate to get to work, school, home or soccer practice, traffic is even more bothersome. Traffic, and the resulting road rage from even the most mild-mannered motorists, was a problem plaguing the extremely short weave area from the southbound I-95 off-ramp/westbound SR 273 merge point to the Harmony Road traffic signal in New Castle County. This was because those exiting from I-95 wanting to travel west on SR 273 towards Newark mixed heavily with those on westbound SR 273 wanting to make a right on Harmony Road, resulting in a turbulent situation during the weekday morning and afternoon peak hours. When the Harmony Road traffic signal was red for westbound SR 273, the traffic gridlock at the weave would routinely back up onto southbound I-95, creating an extremely dangerous condition.
Daily commuters familiar with the challenges of the problematic weaving area, which was just 475 feet in length, would drive on the shoulders (and even the grass!) to cut into traffic. Due to the significant amount of daily traffic and the short weaving distance, the area was routinely identified by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) as a safety hazard. During the initial study phase of the project, between December 2011 and December 2013, there were 131 crashes near the SR 273 and Harmony Road intersection and 23 crashes along the southbound I-95 off ramp to westbound SR 273. These crashes were primarily side-swipe, angle and rear-end crashes, as would be expected in a highly congested, highly turbulent area.
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