Officials assembled south of Frederica Friday to launch the latest a series of new transportation infrastructure projects.
The $18 million intersection will realign Frederica Road and Tub Mill Pond Road to connect with ramps and provide access to Route 1. It will also realign Milford Neck Road with southbound Route 1 via new ramps.
Kent County administrator Michael Petit de Mange says the project will ensure safe and efficient access to nearby facilities, including the Kent County Resource Recovery Facility, which handles local wastewater, and the Kent County Regional Sports Complex that's currently under construction.
de Mange adds the project should also ease congestion in the area, which is growing along with development in Milford and Frederica.
“I can tell you that we’re starting to see renewed interest in development," said de Mange. "And this area immediately to the west will be the next major growth area of Kent County. And so this improvement will greatly enhance that and provide for future demands on the transportation system.”
Rob Smith, Executive Director of the sports complex, says this intersection is necessary ensure safe travel for athletes and other visitors.
“To get the sports complex to where it is today, took a lot of fortitude, persistence and a lot of collaboration," said Smith. "Without the infrastructure to unlock the facility, [there] would be, [in terms of] public safety, a lot of risks there.”
Officials expect the interchange to be completed by mid-2018.
This project is one of several getting started in the last month. Work is also now underway on the 301 Mainline highway near Middletown and revamping the Route 141 Interchange on I-95 to ease congestion in that area.
