Is it just the Angola area outside of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach that saw a strange crosswalk appearing in a dangerous stretch of a public road? My guess is no because this one at a notorious S curve on Camp Arrowhead Road was approved by the agency that oversees the roads throughout the entire state.
The Delaware Department of Transportation states that it had obtained crash data over the past several years that shows the curve on Camp Arrowhead Road as being safe, despite numerous accidents witnessed by residents. However, its data is from before there was anyone attempting to cross the street. The 15 homes (dots on the map) on one side of the road, whose residents wish to use the amenities on the other side of the road, were not yet built. Using DelDOT’s statistics to justify the crosswalk is like driving using only the rearview mirror when a road worker in front of you is signaling to stop.
DelDOT’s plan to mitigate this situation, after initially agreeing that it needed to be removed in August 2020,is to install fast-flashing beacons as an alert, but the beacons will not increase distance or visibility. What would happen if the beacons stopped working or are knocked down? Would someone put up a sign reading “No Crosswalk” or “Detour”?
This crosswalk was installed for a private community split across this public road. The developer may have contributed some funds for the initial painting of the zebra stripes and crosswalk signs to secure approval for the development, but the public has no idea. Who will pay for the maintenance and repair of the signs and beacons, as the current signs are frequently knocked down? The taxpayers!
This crosswalk should be used as a textbook case of unsafe and poorly engineered crosswalks that actually exist.
Does the approval of this crosswalk reflect DelDOT’s vision statement, as follows?:
Our (DelDOT’s) Vision
Every Trip — We strive to make every trip taken in Delaware safe, reliable and convenient for people and commerce.
Every Mode — We provide safe choices for travelers in Delaware to access roads, rails, buses, airways, waterways, bike trails and walking paths.
Every Dollar — We seek the best value for every dollar spent for the benefit of all.
Everyone — We engage our customers and employees with respect and courtesy as we deliver our services.
If the approval were not a sound decision, the next best thing would be to remove it at any cost for the sake of everyone’s safety, especially young children who might get the false sense of security from the zebra stripes. I ask DelDOT to be proactive and remove this crosswalk. Why wait until someone becomes a statistic to show that this crosswalk is unsafe?
Eul Lee
Angola
