Now that the center of Rehoboth Avenue is torn up, everyone is beginning
to ask, “what exactly are they doing, when will it be done, and what
will it look like when it’s finished.”
We have the answers.
Back in early fall, Delaware Department
of Transportation Secretary Nathan Hayward came to town, joining
Rehoboth Mayor Sam Cooper, State Senator George Bunting, and other local
officials to launch the project—a three-year effort that will revamp
and revitalize both the look and the underground infrastructure of what
Hayward called “coastal Delaware’s best known thoroughfare.”
While the improvements that folks will
see are a huge part of the project – the disappearance of utility
poles, plus addition of new sidewalks, curbs, light fixtures and
landscaping—the most critical work is the re-location of underground
utilities and renovation of water lines, storm sewers, and other vital
city pipelines.
As one project insider said, reducing the
rhetoric to its basics, “If we want to be able to flush toilets, have
running water, and make sure we have electricity into the 21st century,
we have to do this now.”
So much for this just being a
beautification project.
However, in addition to the many
necessary components of the work, there are both tangible and intangible
benefits to be achieved.
According to Secretary Hayward, this
streetscape project is “a way to improve our transportation network,
and increase economic development opportunities as the look of the
Avenue becomes even more inviting.”
Phase One
Right now, Phase One of the project
extends from Second to Fifth Streets along Rehoboth Avenue. Originally
planned to stop at the intersection of Second Street, the construction
has extended into the block between First and Second Streets due to the
need to link up with existing utility junctions.
The extension was prompted, in part, by
the fact that once the engineers started digging, they did not always
find exactly what they expected underground. Water and sewer lines,
utility boxes and other items were often farther away, or buried deeper
than expected.
The construction workers also discovered
some unexpected relics along the way, such as railroad spikes. Any such
“memorabilia,” along with the old sign from the Convention Center,
is being transferred to the Rehoboth Historical Society.
The current Phase One Project will be
finished by Memorial Day and includes placing utility lines underground,
widening sidewalks, repaving the roadway, reconfiguring parking in some
areas, installing ornamental street lighting and trash cans, and plant-ing
new trees, shrubs and flowers. While engineers and designers considered
ordering new street furniture, due to popular demand, Rehoboth’s
traditional white benches will remain.
Work from Second to Fifth Street will
continue with the barrier walls in place on the center of the roadway
for the next few weeks. Then, the lane outside the median will be paved
and traffic will be re-routed to the new lanes.
At that time, the project will shift to
the outside lanes of Rehoboth Avenue, with a separate crew working on
each side of the street. Over the winter months, utility work will
continue in the outside lanes, along with the reconfiguration of the
sidewalks.
During this phase, the engineers will
work with businesses along the Avenue to make sure they still have
access for deliveries. Sidewalks will NOT be closed.
When completed, there will be
approximately the same number of parking spaces as there were before the
construction, and there will be more trees planted than were removed.
Toward Memorial Day, work will be almost
complete, and the last part of the project will involve removing the
telephone poles and the over-ground utility wires.
As we approach the summer season, Phase
One will be complete, with underground utilities, new sidewalks,
roadways, median and landscaping. When the summertime crowds arrive,
there will be no evidence of construction vehicles or any construction
work.
Phase Two
The second phase of the project, to begin
next September, will be concentrated in the area from Fifth Street,
north to the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. During this phase, utilities will
be placed underground, the roadways and median will be renovated, and
the sidewalks will be widened, just as in the first phase.
In addition, a small traffic circle will
be added to Rehoboth Avenue, avoiding the need for a traffic light at
Canal Street. The Chamber of Commerce building will be relocated to make
room for the circle, and traffic will be able to flow easily from
Columbia Avenue onto Rehoboth Avenue. The circle will allow both
incoming and outgoing traffic on Rehoboth Avenue to remain moving at all
times and also allow for a “gateway” area, with landscaping and
signage welcoming people to Rehoboth Beach.
Just like Phase One, the work will be
done between September and May, clearing out for the summer of 2004.
The decisions made regarding this
configuration and the Phase One elements were approved by the Rehoboth
Beach Commissioners following several public meetings and informational
sessions, newspaper articles, and other calls for feedback from Rehoboth
residents, property, and business owners.
Phase Three
The final chapter of this story will be
the revitalization of Rehoboth Avenue from Second Street to the
Boardwalk. This work is currently scheduled for the time period between
September 2004 and May 2005. It will follow the general plan of the
first two sections, relative to under-grounding the utilities, widening
sidewalks, and restoring the median.
However, the actual engineering plans for
this critical section of the job have not yet been finalized. In fact,
this winter and spring, there will be meetings, public hearings, and the
opportunity for citizen input before any decisions are made or any
engineering plans are finalized. Therefore, input regarding the
bandstand area, ocean block parking, delivery zones, bus stops, and the
ocean block circle is welcome. Radical change is not planned and there
is time for citizens and businesses to make their concerns known.
Who’s paying for this?
The total cost for the entire project is
estimated at $12 million, with DelDOT providing $9 million and the City
funding approximately $3 million. There has been a commitment from
DelDOT Secretary Nathan Hayward that the project will be funded to
completion.
Several factors combined to make this an
expensive project. Most important is the caliber of the planning and the
construction company hired to do the work. Daisy Construction, which
came out on top through a rigorous bid process, has an excellent
reputation, and has already proven it can keep the job moving and on
track.
In addition, the requirement that each
phase be completed in a shortened window of time (September through May)
calls for periods of round-the-clock work, dual crews, and more. Many
special factors such as these contribute to the high cost of the
project.
How will it benefit us?
Obviously, it will look great, keep
electric and phone wires out of harm’s way from Nor ‘Easters, and
provide for a safer and more pedestrian- friendly downtown.
Without overhead wires, we’ll be able
to plant shade trees, and continue to revitalize signage and facades for
more visible store fronts.
Also, experience from the National Main
Street Center, the Delaware Economic Development Office, the National
Trust for Historic Preservation, and many organizations in the tourism
industry, tells us that revitalized downtown streetscapes bring more
business and tourism to the area.
And finally, with our underground
infrastructure newly routed and refurbished, downtown homes and
businesses will be spared the problems associated with aging facilities.
What can citizens do to help?
The City of Rehoboth, Rehoboth Beach Main
Street, Inc., and the Rehoboth-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce are
working hard to keep citizens and businesses in the area, as well as the
work zone, aware of the schedule.
We are trying hard to let everyone know
that downtown is open for business during the construction. Since
businesses in the work zone are facing inconvenience, citizens should
help out by shopping, dining, or having their friends and relatives
visit and stay downtown!
Rehoboth Beach Main Street says,
“Downtown Merchants are pulling together to make Rehoboth Avenue
beautiful for us; let’s give them a beautiful Holiday Season!”
The
Streetscape Hotline 302-227-2617 gives daily recorded updates on the
construction.
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