By Glenn Rolfe

SEAFORD — Roundabouts are growing in popularity to facilitate traffic flow.

But don’t count on one being built in the foreseeable future at the signalized intersection of Bridgeville Highway, Front Street, Front Street Extended, North Street, Stein Highway and Norman Eskridge Highway, a junction that serves up to 17,000 vehicles a day.

During a public hearing Tuesday, a feasibility analysis of a potential roundabout — developed by Maryland-based Toole Design — was presented. The study was funded by a $21,500 grant from the Delaware Bike Council in the aftermath of a fatal bicycle collision in the area.

The consultant revealed that the six-way crossing is a major bottleneck and impedes safety and traffic flow for pedestrians and cyclists.

However, the proposal didn’t draw much support.

City Councilman Alan Quillen expressed concern that the peanut-shaped roundabout would reduce vehicular passage from two lanes to one lane on Norman Eskridge Highway.

“There is going to be traffic backup,” he said. “I don’t see a good fit with this concept that we are looking at right now.”

City resident Chris Vane, who commutes from Seaford to Lewes, was also to the point.

“I have three words for mayor and council, the city manager and anyone else that may be in a position of authority or influence on this proposal: Don’t do it,” he said, adding that he has witnessed the “state’s propensity to use all-way stops and traffic roundabouts as the new go-to idea to calm traffic flow, all in the name of traffic safety. It doesn’t work. The reality is stacked-up traffic.”

Seaford’s economic development director Trisha Newcomer gave the presentation on behalf of the consultant. However, she emphasized that it is merely a conceptual idea.

“This is not the city presenting a planned project within our capital improvement plan nor is this in the city’s budget-planning process,” she continued. “Any forward movement with this would require (Delaware Department of Transportation) participation, funding, approvals. These are state-maintained roadways.”

Meanwhile, city manager Charles Anderson said Seaford has no funds for such a plan. “So, to do any more, it will require more funding, either grant funding, DelDOT funding or city funding,” he said.

City Council took no action Tuesday on whether to shelf the proposal, seek more information or proceed.

In proximity to the intersection are several businesses, like Dunkin, Harbor House Seafood and Family Dollar. Harbor House’s owner, Mark Bryan, opposed the roundabout idea.

“I say take this plan and put it in the bottom drawer,” he stated. “I don’t see anything that works good here for me, and I’ve been here for 40 years.”

Toole Design’s analysis tabulated the average daily traffic count through the crossing at approximately 17,000 vehicles. But Vice Mayor Dan Henderson noted that the data doesn’t include how many of those were commercial trucks or tractor-trailers.

“I think it is an excellent design for somebody who has a vision for pedestrians and cyclists, but I don’t think any thought has been put into it for 17,000 vehicles per day,” he continued. “Pedestrian and cyclist safety is important, but I don’t think it’s paramount at this intersection. It is incomplete.”

Officials added that the analysis was submitted to the state Department of Transportation, which responded with several comments and concerns.