As we all know, the City of Rehoboth Beach embarked on a massive ocean outfall project last year. One of the major efforts involved in this project was the tearing up of the 1.3-mile-long Henlopen Avenue from Surf Avenue to The Grove park area to put in the necessary underground piping.
Needless to say, there was a substantial disruption to the resident driveways, and practically all of the off-street parking on both sides of the street. However, when it was all done, the entire street looked beautiful. Henlopen Avenue was completely repaved, along with brand-new gravel on both shoulders. In fact, the street was labeled as the biker’s newfound way to connect to the Gordons Pond trailhead.
Alas, with the good comes the not so good. Drivers living in Henlopen Acres and North Shores, along with daily beachgoers to Gordons Pond and Deauville Beach, saw this new beautification effort as a brand-new drag strip. The three stop signs that have been forever installed on the very east end of Henlopen Avenue were reinstalled after the project, but the 1.0-mile middle and western stretch of Henlopen Avenue was suddenly open season on “who can drive the fastest.”
Joggers, dog walkers, and bike riders were soon at the mercy of this new breed of car thrill seeker. Speeds well over the posted speed limit were not only common, but expected. Think of Interstate 95 around Wilmington and you get the picture. Nobody there follows the posted speed limit.
Concerned for everyone’s safety, a few of us approached Mayor Kuhns with suggested recommendations. He did his own study and evaluation, and came to the realization a stop sign at the corner of Easton and Henlopen Avenue would dramatically lower the speeding and bring safety back to the forefront of those residents living on and around Henlopen Avenue.
Kudos to the mayor. He didn’t seek a study, or ask a committee to look into the matter. He made a decision, and a dang good one at that.
Jon and Cindy Stolson
Rehoboth Beach
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