In 2024, Dover Kent MPO launched a citizen survey to determine the feasibility of a shared-use path from the town of Milford to Slaughter Beach. This citizen survey was conducted at the request of both the town of Slaughter Beach and Milford to determine if a bike path could reduce traffic and allow a safer method for non-motorized transportation. Recently, the results of the survey were released, with Dover Kent MPO suggesting the project be delayed until certain conditions are addressed.
“The addition of bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Cedar Beach Road should be considered if any of the following occur,” the report read. “Any new development along Cedar Beach Road or adjacent roads should be required to construct a shared-use path along the property’s frontage and include sidewalks within the interior of the development to support walkability.”
Other factors that needed to be addressed included requiring developers to upgrade the surrounding roadways to accommodate any increased traffic. The section of Cedar Beach Road to Shockley Road is prone to flooding but has been identified as a high-priority for flood mitigation at the state level.
“Cedar Beach Road does not currently meet DelDOT’s design standards, although no improvements are planned at this time,” the report continued. “If upgraded as part of a capital project, it would be brought into compliance using two options. The first is 11-foot travel lanes with six-foot shoulders and no shared use path, or 11-foot travel lanes with a two-foot shoulder and a shared use path.”
Dover Kent MPO also found that plans for improvements on South Rehoboth Boulevard included a shared-use path on Cedar Beach Road where the two roads connect, according to the Milford Transportation Improvement District Plan (TID). Those plans align with the city’s Bicycle Master Plan and are intended to support future growth in that area. Improvements to the intersection of Cedar Beach Road and Sapp Road, including a shared-use path, were also recommended in the report.
“Both Milford and Slaughter Beach are designated Discovery Zones along the Delaware Seashore Byway, and both communities share an interest in nature-based tourism and environmental preservation,” the report read. “Connecting these two communities is Cedar Beach Road, governed by the Bayshore Byway Corridor Management Plan. The plan recommends expanding pedestrian and bicycling-friendly facilities where appropriate along the byway so that Discovery Zones can be explored on foot and bicycle.”
The plan continued, stating that despite the narrowness of Cedar Beach Road and frequent flooding, it is a critical connection between Milford and Slaughter Beach. The shared use path would be installed in four different sections of Cedar Beach Road On average, 70 percent of those surveyed preferred no shared use path be constructed, while 30 percent approved of upgrading the road. The largest percentage who approved of upgrading wanted shoulders added to Cedar Beach Road at around 16 percent, while another 12 percent wanted to see a shared-use path. Only around four percent wanted to see the shared-use path and roadway reconstruction.
Public response to the survey indicated that 41 percent were residents of Slaughter Beach, 40 percent residents of Milford, and 33 percent residents of Sussex County. Of the remaining respondents, ten percent were regular visitors, seven percent were business owners, four percent were employees of area businesses, and three percentwere occasional visitors. The remaining eight percent were listed as “other.”
“The majority of those who responded to the survey did not regularly ride bicycles,” the report read. “There were an equal number at 31 percent who never walked and those who walked more than once per week. Only 25 percent rode a bicycle a few times a month, while 38 percent never rode bicycles. As for e-bikes or scooters, 89 percent had never ridden an e-bike, and 94 percent had never ridden a scooter. Overwhelmingly, the respondents drive regularly at 86 percent.”
The responses also found that if there was a shared use path along Cedar Beach Road that was separated from motor vehicle traffic, 52 percent responded yes or maybe that they would use it. Many of the respondents were concerned that the state would “take” land to create the path. However, a review of DelDOT regulations shows that there is already a 30-foot right-of-way along Cedar Beach Road that could be used for the path. There is also a 10-foot permanent easement along each side of the road.
There was an alternative plan proposed in the study that would run the shared-use path along the Mispillion River, connecting the Milford Riverwalk to Slaughter Beach. That route was considered as it would create a regional greenway and eco-tourism corridor. The study found it would be significantly more challenging to use that option than an established roadway. The Mispillion River has a naturally winding course that would require a less-direct route than along Cedar Beach Road, adding to the cost of the project.
“The proposed alignment would traverse areas located entirely within the 100-year flood plain, requiring much of the shared-use path to be constructed as an elevated structure to remain functional and resilient,” the report said. “The alignment could potentially cross through sensitive environmental habitats, including critical areas used by red knots and horseshoe crabs, species of high conservation concern along the Delaware Bay.”
Other factors that made the option to run the path along the Mispillion included the need for additional emergency access points, extensive planning and resources allocated to maintain public safety.
“Finally, accessing the facility would require traveling to a trailhead and would not be readily accessible to those who live along Cedar Beach Road, making this a recreational facility as opposed to a transportation facility,” the report stated. “The level of environmental mitigation required to address habitat disruption, water quality impacts and construction-related disturbances would be substantial, making the feasibility and cost effectiveness of this project not a viable option to pursue at this time.”
Kent Dover MPO will continue to monitor upgrades to Cedar Beach Road to determine when a bicycle path could be constructed to connect Milford and Slaughter Beach. You can read the entire report by clicking here.
