Beach traffic builds Friday evening

Traffic congestion began to build on Del. 1 southbound throughout Delaware at 4 p.m. Friday with clusters of congestion in West Rehoboth and near Little Heaven. State traffic officials expect traffic volumes to balloon as the afternoon turns to evening.

Friday evening marks the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend holiday – typically one of the busiest times for the Delaware Beaches, and the unofficial kickoff to the area's summer tourism season.

State officials recommend drivers avoid Del. 1 if possible during rush-hour until 8 p.m. when traffic on the north, south artery is expected to clear.

STORY: Delaware's beach bus starts Friday 

STORY: Delaware's beach-bound brace for traffic 

"We'll see. The next four hours are going to tell the tale," said Gene Donaldson, the Delaware Department of Transportation's traffic manager. "It has started to slow down at the (Del.) 9 interchange."

Friday evening will likely be the busiest travel time during the weekend, Donaldson said, as travelers generally return home at wider range of time spans later in the weekend.

DART's weekend express bus service to Rehoboth from New Castle and Kent counties also kicked off on Friday. Bus route 305, which carried approximately 3,700 passengers last year, will pick up riders at the Amtrak station in Wilmington, Christiana Mall, Odessa Park and Ride, and Scarborough Road Park and Ride in Dover before it arrives at the Rehoboth Park and Ride. The weekend express service is in its 16th season.

Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329. Follow him on Twitter @kbaker6.