SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. (Feb. 4, 2025) — Sussex County is moving forward with plans to expedite road improvements through a new partnership with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).
The Sussex County Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DelDOT, allowing the county to prioritize specific road projects and move them up the state’s list for faster completion.
County Administrator Todd Lawson said the agreement benefits the county by enabling it to fund the projects while DelDOT manages the rest of the process.

Todd Lawson
“We pay the funding, but they manage the project,” Lawson said. “There’s really no obligation for the county to manage the project beyond providing funding through our Finance Department. DelDOT handles everything else.”
Under the agreement, Sussex County can select projects it wants to complete sooner than originally scheduled, provide upfront funding, and see work begin within 60 days. Once the project appears in DelDOT’s budget as planned, the county will be reimbursed for its initial costs.
Lawson said this arrangement would help speed up infrastructure improvements in the county. The county’s financial contribution could move long-term projects forward by four or five years, with a focus on those that were not scheduled to start for another five to seven years.
“We’re not looking to fund projects that are already near completion. Instead, we’re focusing on projects that may not have been started for another five, six, or seven years,” Lawson said.
In addition to signing the MOU, the Sussex County Council approved its first fast-tracked project: a $4 million upgrade to the intersection of Cave Neck, Hudson, and Sweetbriar roads west of Lewes. This intersection, which has become increasingly congested due to nearby residential developments, was not set for improvements from DelDOT until 2026.

The intersection upgrade is part of the county’s efforts to address growing traffic concerns and improve safety and efficiency in the region. With the new funding arrangement, the project is expected to be completed much sooner than originally planned.