Navigating Delaware’s road network can sometimes feel disorienting for both new and experienced drivers. Kirkwood Highway is a prime example. Driving along this four-to-six-lane roadway — or even trying to access it — can feel like a venture down a rabbit hole. For pedestrians and cyclists, attempting to traverse this busy thoroughfare often turns into a heart-pounding and potentially dangerous exercise.
To address challenges, transportation officials are developing plans to transform Kirkwood Highway from a high-speed corridor into a more community-friendly thoroughfare that better serves local residents and businesses. The project’s latest developments were discussed at a public workshop Thursday, where officials presented draft recommendations for improving both transportation and land use along the highway.
Led by the Wilmington Area Planning Council, or WILMAPCO , the Kirkwood Highway Corridor Land Use and Transportation Plan envisions a redesign of an 8.3-mile stretch of Kirkwood Highway, also known as Route 2, where it intersects with State Routes 72, 7, 41, and 141. Including adjacent communities, the study area covers approximately 15 square miles…