New sidewalk for Robinson Drive expected in spring

It’s been over three years since Delaware Department of Transportation officials first unveiled plans for a sidewalk on Robinson Drive, just outside Rehoboth Beach.

According to Kathryn Beasley, DelDOT spokesperson, it looks like construction is going to begin in spring 2021. During a public workshop in December 2019, DelDOT officials had said construction was expected to begin this year.

In an email Nov. 2, Beasley said DelDOT wanted to start the roughly $1 million project in October, but there are some conflicts with existing underground utilities. Resolving the conflicts will take some time, which is why DelDOT is now pushing the start date back to spring, she said.

Beasley said DelDOT doesn’t want to start and then stop a partially completed project because of winter. She said the project is estimated to take two months to complete.

In an Oct. 20 notice to property owners along Robinson Drive, DelDOT said personal items, landscaping or plantings in the right of way need to be moved.

Beasley said personal items will be removed by DelDOT’s contractor once work begins. The contractor will exercise care to reduce the impact to the residents, but the project does traverse the frontage of many parcels with established entrances and landscaping, she said.

Beasley said the only landscaping that would be removed is on the state right of way; this project should not impact private property.

Beasley said the sidewalk project was initiated by residents on Robinson Drive who have concerns with pedestrian safety on the road, which is used by many vehicles as a cut-through from Route 1 to Rehoboth Beach.

There has been at least one traffic-calming measure taken since the project was first discussed – the installation of new stop signs at the intersection of Robinson Drive and Fisher Street.