I-95 northbound flyover ramp opens in Delaware [video]

The final step in a $107-million dollar road project that many tri-state area motorists are quite familiar with is finally completed and open for Delaware motorists as well as those passing through the first state.

One of the most congested areas also known as the I-95 and Delaware Route 1 Interchange has undergone a complete face lift, creating I-95 flyover exit ramps, and eliminating a bottleneck area usually packed with both beach and Christiana Mall traffic. Now drivers will no longer be forced to merge across multiple lanes especially when heading towards Wilmington. According to Gov. Jack Markell, D-Del., the project design helps traffic run much smoother.

“It’s going to be great for people to get through this area so much more quickly. There’s been a lot of frustration over the years and this is going to be a huge change,” said Gov. Markell.

Despite a 16 day federal government shut down, U.S. Senator Chris Coons says Thursday’s opening of the I-95 northbound flyover ramp is a great example of a project that was funded by state and federal governments. 80% of the project was federally funded.

“I’m optimistic that we are going to be able to make progress in congress going forward and this certainly is a great symbol of the progress being made here in Delaware by the federal state partnership,” said Sen. Coons.

The southbound ramp has been open for about six weeks now allowing Christiana Mall traffic to flow at a steady speed.

“This part of I-95 is one of the busiest intersections in the state with an average of 220,000 vehicles per day, nearly half of them exiting on Route 1 southbound,” said Congressman John Carney.

“We got to move people whether they want to go to the beaches, Dover Downs or Legislative Hall. We want to be able to move people. This is a part of our economic livelihood. This is an investment that will payoff in jobs for a long time to come,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper.

In the meantime, work will continue around the two ramps to fully complete the project. It’s the last phase of a multi -project Interstate Improvement Program that’s responsible for the replacement of the Churchmans Road Bridge over I-95 as well as the reconstruction of the I-95 Newark Toll Plaza.

For more information about future I-95 related projects you can visit the Delaware Department of Transportation website.