Traffic congestion in the Dover area was beginning to be a problem for DelDOT, which was especially concerning for local industrial businesses, whose operations rely heavily on a dependable transportation system. DelDOT eventually decided to construct 3.2 miles of a new arterial roadway to better connect communities and businesses in Dover. This, along with a new crossing of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and a continuous multi-use path, increases safety for drivers, reduces traffic through local streets, allows better access for emergency services, and cuts congestion at key intersections.
But the project was not without challenges. Nearby communities not only needed minimal disruptions and impacts, they also demanded continuous access during construction. Nearby recreational facilities, such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Boy Scouts of America, necessitated consideration for continuous non-motorized connections along the corridor to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Sensitive habitats, such as the thriving wetlands located along the Puncheon Run and Isaac Branch stream banks and the presence of the historic Kesselring property within the project footprint, required minimization of unavoidable impacts, mitigation of wetland impacts and extensive archaeological investigation. In the end, however, the $67 million POW/MIA Parkway – also known as the West Dover Connector – satisfied the community and businesses alike, while providing a safer and easier commute for all.
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