Delaware's electronic speed enforcement system is heading to the beach.
WDEL has learned that DELDOT is planning to place a speed monitoring camera on Southbound Delaware Route 1 at Minos Conaway Road, just before the Nassau Bridge north of Lewes, by the end of the year.
DelDOT began work in June on a 3-year overhaul of the intersection, which will involve moving traffic underneath the Nassau Bridge to eliminate traffic needing to make dangerous left turns across two lanes of Route 1.
The Minos Conoway Road intersection is 77 miles south of the last traffic signal along Route 1, which is technically still Route 7 at AAA Boulevard in Churchmans Crossing just before I-95.
Route 1 runs as a 65 m.p.h. expressway through Dover, before dipping to 60 m.p.h. and then 55 m.p.h. in Little Heaven, when cross traffic enters the mix.
Minos Conoway Road is roughly at the point when DelDOT drops the speed limit to 45 m.p.h. in anticipation of the built-up communities south of the Nassau Bridge.
"That is really the time and place when people need to back off of the speed, and transition from being on a limited-access highway to more of a local road system," DelDOT's CR McLeod told WDEL.
The camera would be the third time a work-zone speed camera would be installed by DelDOT, starting with the previous I-95 "Restore the Corridor" project in Wilmington, and the ongoing I-95/Route 896 work zone near Newark.
During a presentation Monday on progress being made on the 95/896 project, DelDOT said they saw a 10% reduction in speeds after the speed cameras were installed, with southbound traffic actually dropping below the posted 55 m.p.h. speed limit (54.6 m.p.h.), and a 19% reduction in wrecks.
McLeod said that speed reduction is a major goal, with the cameras not leading to a citation unless a driver is detected going 11 m.p.h. or more over the posted speed limit.
"To really help bring down those speeds that we're seeing, and make this a safe work zone for all of the workers that are going to be out there, and for all of those having to travel through this work zone on a daily basis."
McLeod also said they don't plan for the new camera to be a "gotcha" moment, as there will be plenty of signage before the speed camera, once it is installed.
"We want people to be aware of it. We want people to react to that, slow down, and travel safely through the corridor and not get a ticket."
DelDOT keeps 100% of the fines, and they go towards maintaining the cameras, and then the Delaware Office of Highway Safety for education, enforcement, engineering, or administrative purposes.
DelDOT has not set specific date for the installation of the speed camera, but they do expect to have it in place before the end of the year, with a heavy campaign to make sure people are aware of it, just like they did with the two I-95 programs.