Ribbon cutting held for trail extension outside Rehoboth

State and city officials celebrated the completion of a trail extension for the Junction & Breakwater Trail outside Rehoboth Beach with a ribbon cutting June 25.

The $513,000 project was done as a partnership among Delaware Department of Transportation, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Rehoboth Beach. Officials who attended the ribbon cutting included Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills, Commissioner Richard Byrne, Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Nicole Majeski, Commissioner Patrick Gossett and Commissioner Jay Lagree.

Located just west of the city, the new extension allows bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate from Rehoboth Avenue Extended to Canal Crossing Road. Before the completion of the extension, walkers and bicyclists had to navigate a tricky intersection at Church Street to remain on the trail.

The connection is a 10-foot-wide asphalt path leading to a two-way buffered bicycle lane along Rehoboth Avenue Extended to Grove Park within the city. The work also included paving, concrete sidewalk, signage, striping, site amenities and fencing.

“Among the many things we love about our community is its walk- and bike-ability. We’re grateful that DelDOT has created this extension that facilitates biking and walking more safely between Rehoboth Beach and the Junction & Breakwater Trail,” said Mills.