Senator Carper Highlights Impacts of Climate Change Across Delaware: Route 9 Permanent Road Closure

Statement

This morning, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, toured sections of Delaware State Route 9 in Odessa where the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is considering permanently closing the road due to frequent flooding caused by sea level rise. DelDOT officials have concluded that their budget does not allow for raising the road to mitigate continual flooding. Senator Carper was joined by officials from DelDOT and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Acting Division Director for Energy and Climate Susan Love.

"All along our east coast, from Claymont to Fenwick, Delaware's communities are experiencing more frequent and more costly flooding," said Senator Carper. "Just like with Route 9 in Odessa, DelDOT is finding it simply doesn't have the funds to keep building up roads in response to rising flood waters. Instead, we need to find innovative solutions that protect our communities for years to come and take action on a global scale to limit how much humans will contribute to rising sea levels in the decades to come."

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