Cape State Park in Lewes unveils traffic study, new entrance options
By LEWES — Traffic data collected last summer has been used to develop alternative layouts to the entrance of Cape Henlopen State Park and its office, though funding and construction are still pending.
The review, discussed Wednesday at a workshop at the park, was conducted on July 4, on Labor Day and on the busiest Saturday of the year in 2023, Aug. 26.
On July 4, the study revealed that the queue to enter the park extended almost 0.75 miles, potentially impacting neighbors, businesses and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
Under new design concepts, which streamline access and widen the entry, simulations displayed that the same volume of traffic caused a backup of only 110 feet.
Also that day, cars were entering the park by the hundreds per hour, according to the study, performed by Century Engineering and paid for by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Five sites measured vehicular traffic last July 4. The main entrance was the busiest, with a rate of 545 vehicles per hour, followed by the park office with 467 and Cape Henlopen Drive with 471. Dune Road had 234 vehicles per hour and the campground about 20 each hour.
On the other days, a sixth site was added at the toll booth, which processed about 420 cars per hour Labor Day and more than 460 each hour Aug. 26.
This led to lower numbers elsewhere, with the main entrance processing 413 cars per hour, the office moving 419, 380 on Cape Henlopen Drive and only about 100 on Dune Road. The Aug. 26 numbers didn’t differ significantly except for the entrance and office, which added about 50 cars per hour each.
Finding the reported traffic situation less than ideal — and with the goals of increasing security, decreasing confusion among residents and visitors, providing separate access for campground users, easing access for emergency vehicles and incorporating a new park office — Century Engineering also developed four proposed solutions.
While still in the concept phase, the proposals generally allow safer traffic circulation and additional waiting space for vehicle traffic, streamline ingress and egress, and provide a dedicated lane for campground check-in and checkout.
Though it could change, the firm’s preferred proposal also removes some roads, reduces impervious surfaces in the park and lessens impact to large flora and fauna.
More complete, but in tandem with an updated entrance, is the proposed new office.
According to Brooks Cahall, manager of the state Division of Parks and Recreation’s planning, preservation and development, that building’s design is about 60% complete. The plan visually recalls lifesaving stations and boathouses, and would consolidate four staff locations into one.
“Next, the division will incorporate the designs into the concept plan and make revisions to the concept plan, then request construction funds. Construction would start about six months after funding is received,” he said.
The best-case scenario would be to have the office construction funded in the fiscal year 2027 bond bill, Mr. Cahall said.
DNREC is collecting comments on this and other projects via dnrec.delaware.gov/events/cape-henlopen-state-park-community-meeting.
