Delaware Code Title 17. Highways § 201. Legislative intent

It is declared that increases in forested land in the State, together with landscape features such as trees, shrubs and ground covers other than or in addition to grass, not only improve the aesthetic value of our State, but carry with them valuable benefits to the health and welfare of our citizens and our environment.  It is likewise declared that the Department of Transportation is a leader in replacing forestlands that are required to be cleared for such projects and in providing travelers throughout the State with scenic vistas along its roadways while maintaining safe design and construction standards.

Therefore, this subchapter is intended to more precisely reflect a policy requiring the incorporation of landscaping and reforestation in the projects developed by the Department of Transportation for road construction and improvements in the State.  This subchapter is intended to provide minimum standards for the volume of landscaping or reforestation that must take place, for how those activities must be planned, and for how much must be allocated to ensure those activities can take place.  The Department of Transportation bears the responsibility for providing specific standards that are needed through regulations developed pursuant to this subchapter.