A sewer line is being relocated along Barratt’s Chapel Road, just north of Frederica, in advance of a large Del. 1 highway project in Little Heaven. (Delaware State News/Andrew West)
DOVER — Since February drivers on Del. 1 north of Frederica may have noticed construction near Barratt’s Chapel Road.
Completion isn’t likely to come soon.
That’s because what started in February is only a small part of a much larger Delaware Department of Transportation project for Del. 1 at Little Heaven.
It involves moving Del. 1 to the east of its current location and eliminating the traffic signals on Del. 1 at both Magnolia and Bowers.
“The new SR 1 will be shifted east, going up and over the Bowers Beach light and the southbound lanes will be converted into a two-way service road,” said Thad McIlvaine, project manager.
After DelDOT construction concludes, traffic will be able to access Del. 1 from Magnolia and Bowers but will travel on ramps above the current Del. 1 and a future service road.
Before the DelDOT project can be started, though, sewer lines in the area need to be relocated. In all, 16,300 feet of new, 36-inch force main sewer pipe are in the process of being installed to replace the current line.
The new line begins at the west side of Del. 1, north of Frederica and ends at Clapham Road, north of the Barkers Landing Mobile Home Park.
Since the DelDOT project lies on Kent County property, the county is overseeing the sewer work it contracted to Asset Construction of Dover.
Construction of the new sewer line began in February and is expected to be completed by October. Kent County Public Works reported that with favorable summer weather the project is expected to be finished on time.
The 10-month sewer project is nothing in comparison to the road work to follow.
Mr. McIlvaine said the Del. 1 project will begin once the sewer line is completed and is expected to take around three years to complete. It is expected to open to traffic in late 2018 or early 2019.
“Essentially we are working to ensure traffic on SR 1 will flow freely both north and south bound allowing for an easier and quicker commute,” Mr. McIlvaine said.