U.S. 301 toll road project in Delaware

[Tonytone]

I asked about the designation of the proposed spur route and was told that it won't be US 301 Spur. It won't have any designation of its own. They said it will likely be signed "To DE 896 — Newark" and "To US 301 Toll South — Middletown, Annapolis," though signage won't be finalized until they actually start on it.

Also, I notice from the newest satellite imagery and flyover videos that unlike most of DE 1, the new US 301 is being built with concrete shoulders on the mainline and ramps.

I guess that good ol'concrete plant down the road made it easier for them to do that. & How the spur road is being built now?


iPhone

[Alps]

December opening cited:
http://www.wboc.com/story/39497782/new-toll-road-to-open-on-us-route-301-at-delaware-state-line

[Beltway]

December opening cited:
http://www.wboc.com/story/39497782/new-toll-road-to-open-on-us-route-301-at-delaware-state-line

Road trip!  That is about an hour from where my dad lives.

[Roadsguy]

December opening cited:
http://www.wboc.com/story/39497782/new-toll-road-to-open-on-us-route-301-at-delaware-state-line

I wonder if they'll specify an actual date, or have elsewhere. Last I saw, it was planned to open New Year's Day.

Either way, I'll be able to check it out when I'm home from college for Christmas break and post some pictures and/or video.

[jeffandnicole]

December opening cited:
http://www.wboc.com/story/39497782/new-toll-road-to-open-on-us-route-301-at-delaware-state-line

I wonder if they'll specify an actual date, or have elsewhere. Last I saw, it was planned to open New Year's Day.

Either way, I'll be able to check it out when I'm home from college for Christmas break and post some pictures and/or video.

I'd seriously doubt they'll open a route on a holiday when most state officials are off.

[ipeters61]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

[Henry]

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this gets extended across the border and on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, at least.

[hbelkins]

I'm presuming there will be "Last Exit Before Toll" signs somewhere? If so, where?

[Roadsguy]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

Interesting that they're not signing "To DE 15" at Exit 2.

This also essentially confirms no new designation for the original 301, at least not for the southern half, which is the only place you'd really need it.

Also good to see that the project arrived at just the right time to avoid Clearview. Has DelDOT resumed using it?

[seicer]

How does a highway of that length cost over a half billion dollars?

[ipeters61]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

Interesting that they're not signing "To DE 15" at Exit 2.

This also essentially confirms no new designation for the original 301, at least not for the southern half, which is the only place you'd really need it.

I spoke to the project manager about it and was told that the roads that US-301 is presently using are going to just have the US-301 designation removed, with their existing DE- designations (if any) remaining.

[Alps]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

Interesting that they're not signing "To DE 15" at Exit 2.

This also essentially confirms no new designation for the original 301, at least not for the southern half, which is the only place you'd really need it.

I spoke to the project manager about it and was told that the roads that US-301 is presently using are going to just have the US-301 designation removed, with their existing DE- designations (if any) remaining.

71, 896, and 299 cover most of it. I'd have liked to see something connect 71 to 299 at that gap. Maybe something like 171 or 99.

[PHLBOS]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

Interesting that they're not signing "To DE 15" at Exit 2.

This also essentially confirms no new designation for the original 301, at least not for the southern half, which is the only place you'd really need it.

I spoke to the project manager about it and was told that the roads that US-301 is presently using are going to just have the US-301 designation removed, with their existing DE- designations (if any) remaining.

71, 896, and 299 cover most of it. I'd have liked to see something connect 71 to 299 at that gap. Maybe something like 171 or 99.

If what's shown on Google Maps is correct; that route gap is less than a mile.  One option would be to reroute DE 71 north of DE 299 onto DE 299 westbound (for a short concurrency) towards the soon-to-be-former US 301 and have it run northward.  N. Broad St. (current DE 71) in that area could become DE 71A.

[jeffandnicole]

How does a highway of that length cost over a half billion dollars?

$42 million per mile.  Basically the going rate in this region.  And this was built in relatively rural/suburban areas.

When we had a discussion in NJ about Route 55 being completed, some people were coming in with very low estimates of what they would think it would cost to finish it.  And this $42 million would probably be low even for that project.

[ixnay]

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this gets extended across the border and on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, at least.

It's being promoted across the border at at least one location - via billboards at U.S. 301 and MD 300 (both north of the intersection and south of the J turn that folks heading east on 300 must negotiate to get from Church Hill to Sudlersville).  I spotted these billboards about 9 days ago - I forget the wording, sorry, but those billboards were there.

ixnay

[Jim]

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this gets extended across the border and on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, at least.

I believe that the last time I took US 301 through that part of Maryland, within the last several months, there were no lights between the Bay Bridge and the Delaware line.  Definitely plenty of at-grade crossings, though, that it seems might become more dangerous when the new Delaware segment opens and encourages more traffic along that route.

If Maryland is going to do something to improve the 301 corridor, I'd much rather see something to improve the situation between US 50 in Bowie and the Nice Bridge.  La Plata and Waldorf are infuriating.  The Virginia side from the bridge to Bowling Green is still not too bad (but it does seem there's another new light every time I go that way).

[Alps]

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this gets extended across the border and on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, at least.

I believe that the last time I took US 301 through that part of Maryland, within the last several months, there were no lights between the Bay Bridge and the Delaware line.  Definitely plenty of at-grade crossings, though, that it seems might become more dangerous when the new Delaware segment opens and encourages more traffic along that route.

If Maryland is going to do something to improve the 301 corridor, I'd much rather see something to improve the situation between US 50 in Bowie and the Nice Bridge.  La Plata and Waldorf are infuriating.  The Virginia side from the bridge to Bowling Green is still not too bad (but it does seem there's another new light every time I go that way).

Looks like the superstreet project killed all of those.

[Tonytone]

What will this do to the already heavy traffic De 1


iPhone

[cpzilliacus]

What will this do to the already heavy traffic De 1

You might want to look at the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which usually have some sort of travel demand estimates included for future years.

[cpzilliacus]

71, 896, and 299 cover most of it. I'd have liked to see something connect 71 to 299 at that gap. Maybe something like 171 or 99.

Alt U.S. 301 would be nice.

I thought there was a requirement for tolled U.S. routes (not including toll crossings) to have a bannered Alternate route signed?

[Alex4897]

Looks like there's a sneak preview of signage on the new expressway: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/11/20/toll-plate-option-new-commuters-u-s-301-mainline/1945217002/

Interesting that they're not signing "To DE 15" at Exit 2.

This also essentially confirms no new designation for the original 301, at least not for the southern half, which is the only place you'd really need it.

I spoke to the project manager about it and was told that the roads that US-301 is presently using are going to just have the US-301 designation removed, with their existing DE- designations (if any) remaining.

71, 896, and 299 cover most of it. I'd have liked to see something connect 71 to 299 at that gap. Maybe something like 171 or 99.

If what's shown on Google Maps is correct; that route gap is less than a mile.  One option would be to reroute DE 71 north of DE 299 onto DE 299 westbound (for a short concurrency) towards the soon-to-be-former US 301 and have it run northward.  N. Broad St. (current DE 71) in that area could become DE 71A.

In the spirit of retaining a single designation along the entire corridor, I feel it'd make more sense to run DE 896 the whole way down old US 301 to end at the new Levels Road interchange. Then you could replace the designation on Boyds Corner Road with whatever your heart desires (maybe an extended MD 310?)

[Beltway]

What will this do to the already heavy traffic De 1

The merge point is where DE-1 begins six lanes (3 each way), should fit well. 

Also some traffic to US-301 to the Newark area.

[Tonytone]

What will this do to the already heavy traffic De 1

The merge point is where DE-1 begins six lanes (3 each way), should fit well. 

Also some traffic to US-301 to the Newark area.

I assume that will work. It's just that, during rush hour DE-1 Past middletown looks like 95.
I wonder when (if) they have already put De 1 widening on the schedule.


iPhone

[ipeters61]

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually this gets extended across the border and on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, at least.

I believe that the last time I took US 301 through that part of Maryland, within the last several months, there were no lights between the Bay Bridge and the Delaware line.  Definitely plenty of at-grade crossings, though, that it seems might become more dangerous when the new Delaware segment opens and encourages more traffic along that route.

I've been worried about that personally.  I consider that stretch of US-301 on the Eastern Shore to be my favorite highway on Delmarva because it has those crossovers but they don't feel nearly as dangerous as the ones surrounded by lots of development.  It feels like the perfect balance of no stoplights but allowing cross traffic.

[froggie]

I don't think you're going to have enough of an increase of US 301 traffic in Maryland to make a difference.  Most of 301 between Centreville and the Delaware line has daily volumes of 12K or less.  It could easily handle double that and still be fine, especially if SHA continues to put J-turns in.

I thought there was a requirement for tolled U.S. routes (not including toll crossings) to have a bannered Alternate route signed?

Not specifically a bannered Alternate route.  AASHTO policy states that the tolled route should have the "Toll" banner above it and "a toll-free routing between the same termini shall continue to be retained and marked as a part of the U.S. Numbered System."  It could be a bannered Alt route, but could also be another route.