A roundabout is one option for the intersection of Marsh Road and Baynard Boulevard in North Wilmington. (Ken Mammarella photo)
“Heard from an impacted neighbor there is a roundabout going in at Baynard Blvd and Marsh Rd,” a post on Facebook began. “Anyone have additional insights or information on the details?”
This being a well-connected Delaware, it took just 10 hours for official insights.
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“A roundabout is one of the concepts that will be developed for resolving the safety issues at that intersection,” C.R. McLeod, director of community relations at the Delaware Department of Transportation, wrote on Facebook.
“Options will be presented at a public meeting once design is complete. This does not mean it is definitely happening, it is just one possibility. Roundabouts slow traffic and reduce the number of crashes, both of which are issues at this location.”
“We are still completing the land survey of the intersection and have not yet started design on improvements,” he elaborated to DelawareLive.
“We currently are estimating having a public workshop about the project next spring to present concepts to the public.”
The intersection in question is in North Wilmington, just west of the Marsh Road interchange with Interstate 95.
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Since 2019, there have been more than 20 crashes at this intersection, McLeod added.
Marsh runs straight for quite a stretch, passing a few smaller roads before intersecting with Baynard, which in one direction leads into a subdivision and in the other is busy enough to carry double yellow no-passing stripes.
All about roundabouts
Roundabouts are not common in Delaware, according to a DelDOT map that counts 33 of them.
They’re most prevalent in southern New Castle County, with four along Jamison Corner Road near Middletown.
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Northern New Castle County has just three, two created near Alapocas Run State Park and the third leading into The Pilot School.
“A well-designed strategically placed roundabout has several benefits,” DelDOT writes. “National studies have indicated that serious and fatal crashes have been reduced by 70 to 90 percent at locations where roundabouts were installed.
“Overall delays may be reduced due to the smooth flow of vehicle traffic rather than the stop-and-go traffic of normal intersections.
“The central island is often landscaped to help beautify the intersection.”
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