DelDOT will not build a separate pedestrian and bicycle pathway along Fred Hudson Road as part of its upcoming bridge repairs, but changes to the project will provide additional space for cyclists and pedestrians.
State Rep. Ron Gray said he remains hopeful that a dedicated pathway could eventually be constructed over the wetlands adjacent to Fred Hudson Road, connecting the area more safely to Route 1 in Bethany Beach.
According to Gray, DelDOT revised its bridge design following input from the Safer Fred Hudson coalition and discussions involving Gray and state Sen. Gerald Hocker. The updated plan will reduce vehicle travel lanes to 10 feet wide, allowing for 5-foot shoulders on both sides of the bridge. The speed limit in the area will also be reduced from 40 mph to 35 mph.
The Safer Fred Hudson coalition has advocated for a separate multi-use pathway for several years, citing concerns about pedestrian and bicycle safety along the heavily traveled road. Members previously helped advance a safety walkway extending from McCoy’s Way, near the entrance to the Salt Pond community, to North Beach Drive, but have continued pushing for an eastbound connection toward Route 1.
A major obstacle is the bridge culvert beneath Fred Hudson Road, which DelDOT says is deteriorating and requires timely replacement. Adding a separate pathway would require environmental review and permitting because of surrounding wetlands, a process officials say could take several years.
DelDOT has said delaying the bridge project while pursuing those approvals could increase the risk of the existing structure failing, potentially resulting in a complete closure of Fred Hudson Road.
Funding is another consideration. Money has been allocated for the bridge replacement, but not for construction of a separate pathway alongside it. DelDOT also noted that the nearby Fresh Pond Trail currently provides an alternative multimodal route and that the department must balance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure needs throughout the state.
For now, DelDOT says the revised bridge design provides an opportunity to improve pedestrian and bicycle access without disturbing adjacent wetlands or delaying the necessary structural repairs. The narrower travel lanes, 5-foot shoulders and reduced speed limit are intended to make the crossing safer while leaving open the possibility of additional improvements in the future.
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