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Road closure raises flooding, emergency access concerns for Delaware neighbors
Дата публикации: 23-09-2026 15:54:46



A road project in Delaware has closed both sides of Vance Neck Road in Middletown, creating a lengthy detour and raising concerns among neighbors about what could happen if their alternate route floods.
Greg Mathena reached out to NBC10 about the closure after the Delaware Department of Transportation project began Monday. He and his neighbors said they are glad the road is being repaired, but the project has grown larger and is expected to take longer than originally anticipated.
Mathena said some drivers don’t realize both sides of Vance Neck Road are closed until they reach the roadblock.
“There they are. They came right back because they have no clue that this is going to be shut down for one month,” Mathena said.
A trip from Delaware Route 1 to Mathena’s home that would normally take about two minutes took NBC10 about 10 minutes using the detour.
Andy Cheung, who lives along the road, questioned why both lanes needed to close.
“The last time they worked on this road they closed one lane. I don’t know why they close both lanes for several weeks,” Cheung said.
DelDOT told NBC10 the road was in worse condition than initially thought, forcing the agency to close both sides. What began as a repaving project has essentially become an overhaul, according to DelDOT, which said leaving one lane open was not possible.
For neighbors, however, the additional driving time and gas aren’t their biggest concerns.
The only other road residents can use to access Vance Neck Road is Route 9, which has a low-lying area that can experience water problems. Neighbors are concerned about the route, as the area deals with rain, high tides and the possibility of a nor’easter.
Mathena recorded video on Route 9 Tuesday night showing water on the roadway. He said the flashing signs designed to warn drivers about water on the road were not flashing when he encountered the water. NBC10 found the signs flashing the following day when there was no water on the road.
Mathena and other neighbors worry that if rising water cuts off Route 9 while Vance Neck Road remains closed, residents could become stuck at or away from their homes. They are also concerned about how emergency services would reach anyone who needs help.
Mathena said he raised the issue with a DelDOT engineer.
“I stressed that to him, I said you know there’s no other way to us,” Mathena said.
DelDOT told NBC10 it recently added five inches of pavement to the lowest and most vulnerable spots along that stretch of Route 9. The agency said it will closely monitor the road during high tides and heavy rain and that local first responders have been updated on the situation.
Mathena, who works in construction, believes DelDOT should find a way to maintain access through Vance Neck Road while the work continues.
“My solution is just give us one lane through,” Mathena said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.


Основное содержимое страницы с новостью.

A road project in Delaware has closed both sides of Vance Neck Road in Middletown, creating a lengthy detour and raising concerns among neighbors about what could happen if their alternate route floods.

Greg Mathena reached out to NBC10 about the closure after the Delaware Department of Transportation project began Monday. He and his neighbors said they are glad the road is being repaired, but the project has grown larger and is expected to take longer than originally anticipated.

Mathena said some drivers don't realize both sides of Vance Neck Road are closed until they reach the roadblock.

"There they are. They came right back because they have no clue that this is going to be shut down for one month," Mathena said.

A trip from Delaware Route 1 to Mathena's home that would normally take about two minutes took NBC10 about 10 minutes using the detour.

Andy Cheung, who lives along the road, questioned why both lanes needed to close.

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"The last time they worked on this road they closed one lane. I don't know why they close both lanes for several weeks," Cheung said.

DelDOT told NBC10 the road was in worse condition than initially thought, forcing the agency to close both sides. What began as a repaving project has essentially become an overhaul, according to DelDOT, which said leaving one lane open was not possible.

For neighbors, however, the additional driving time and gas aren't their biggest concerns.

The only other road residents can use to access Vance Neck Road is Route 9, which has a low-lying area that can experience water problems. Neighbors are concerned about the route, as the area deals with rain, high tides and the possibility of a nor'easter.

Mathena recorded video on Route 9 Tuesday night showing water on the roadway. He said the flashing signs designed to warn drivers about water on the road were not flashing when he encountered the water. NBC10 found the signs flashing the following day when there was no water on the road.

Mathena and other neighbors worry that if rising water cuts off Route 9 while Vance Neck Road remains closed, residents could become stuck at or away from their homes. They are also concerned about how emergency services would reach anyone who needs help.

Mathena said he raised the issue with a DelDOT engineer.

"I stressed that to him, I said you know there's no other way to us," Mathena said.

DelDOT told NBC10 it recently added five inches of pavement to the lowest and most vulnerable spots along that stretch of Route 9. The agency said it will closely monitor the road during high tides and heavy rain and that local first responders have been updated on the situation.

Mathena, who works in construction, believes DelDOT should find a way to maintain access through Vance Neck Road while the work continues.

"My solution is just give us one lane through," Mathena said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.

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