By Craig Anderson

CAMDEN — Aiming to share its vision for the Camden area roadway projects and solicit input from the public, the Delaware Department of Transportation held a virtual session presentation via Zoom Tuesday.

DelDOT and Century Engineering representatives detailed multiple projects before opening up to questions from the public. The projects cover the Camden and Magnolia areas, along with south Dover.

Highlighted projects, with anticipated start and finish years, included:

• U.S. 13 widening between Walnut Shade Road and Puncheon Run Connector (2024-26)

• Camden Bypass, East and West (2023-25)

• Walnut Shade Road between U.S. 13 and Peachtree Run (2023-24)

• Extension of the Capital City Trail (2022)

No major detours are expected as the East and West Camden bypass projects get underway, DelDOT spokesman John Gaines said. Regarding traffic construction, he said “Ideally (it) will not be (present) in residential areas.”

Also, Mr. Gaines said, excess noise shouldn’t be present during the construction phases. The said studies were conducted for all projects and indicated they met federal standards not to have a noise abatement plan.

According to Century Engineering’s Wilmer Nauman, construction of roundabouts on Walnut Shade Road near Polytech High School will not include closures during the school year, only in the summer months.

The six-mile U.S. 13 widening project won’t deny access to businesses along the highway, Mr. Gaines said. Also, according to Jill Frey of Century Engineering, the majority of DART stops will remain the same.

DelDOT and Century Engineering said the U.S. 13 project will:

• Add one lane of travel in each direction.

• Add shared use path along both sides of U.S. 13 from Lochmeath Way to Webbs Lane.

• Add signal at U.S. 13 and S. Governors Avenue/Lakeview Ave. intersection.

• Improve all signalized intersections with pedestrian signals and cross walks.

• Add roadway lighting along U.S. 13 from Walnut Shade Road to Puncheon Run.

Each project team communicated “extensively” with utility companies, Mr. Frey said. Several utilities will be relocated.

During the construction time, 15- to 30-minute power outages could occur, Ms. Frey said. Anyone affected would be notified well before the outages, expected to occur during off peak hours.

All projects are “all well into design” and funded in the Capital Transportation program, Ms. Frey said.

According to the presentation, “Each project reviewed impacts to Wetlands, Historic Resources, Endangered Species and more in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.”

Interested members of the public can express their views in writing, giving reasons for and/or in opposition to the proposed projects, DelDOT said.

Comments can be mailed to DelDOT Community Relations, ATTN: John Gaines, P.O. Box 778, Dover, DE 19903 or sent via email to dotpr@delaware.gov.

A recording of the presentation and question and answer session will be available on the website within a few days after the presentation.