Delays announced for Rehoboth’s Robinson Drive project
Two bike and pedestrian safety projects for two of Rehoboth Beach’s entrances are nearing completion. However, one of them – the Robinson Drive project – is now slated for a mid-June finish, instead of before Memorial Day.
The sidewalk for Robinson Drive is years in the making. It was initiated by residents on the street who had concerns about pedestrian safety on the road, which is used by many vehicles as a cut-through from Route 1 to Rehoboth Beach.
The first workshop on the project was held in September 2017. Work began this March. Delaware Department of Transportation issued a statement May 12 saying the contractor has extended the road closure through Tuesday, June 15.
Louise Holt, DelDOT spokesperson, said the contractor extended the time frame to allow for paving. At all times, residents and local traffic will have access, she said.
For all other traffic, detours are marked with signs.
Junction & Breakwater Trail
On the other side of the city, on Rehoboth Avenue Extended, a connection for the Junction & Breakwater Trail is still expected to be mostly completed by Memorial Day.
Kathryn Beasley, DelDOT spokesperson, said the contractor was expected to complete the bulk of the work by May 15. There may be minor touch-up work required after this date, but impacts to traffic will be minimal and the trail will be ready to open by Memorial Day at the latest, she said.
This project is the completion of a bicycle connection into the city from the Junction & Breakwater trail network. The project includes a 10-foot-wide asphalt trail through private property from Canal Street to Rehoboth Avenue, and the development of a two-way buffered bicycle lane along Rehoboth Avenue to Grove Park, within the city. The work will also include paving, concrete sidewalk, signage, striping, site amenities and fencing.
To make way for the buffered bicycle lane, and the concrete island being used to help guide traffic, the breakdown lane on the south side of Rehoboth Avenue Extended is narrower. According to a map provided by DelDOT, cyclists heading east on the south side of Rehoboth Avenue Extended who would like to access the trail are expected to use the crosswalks at the intersection with Church Street or at the circle, once they’ve entered into town.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
