Work begins Oct. 16 to reconstruct
900 block of Kirkwood Highway
The Department of Transportation's new philosophy of listening and responding to citizens will be put into action again next week as work will begin to reconstruct the 900 block of Kirkwood Highway so that parking on the eastbound shoulder can be permanently re-established, as requested by Elsmere residents and town officials.
Beginning Oct. 16 and continuing for approximately three to four weeks, the Department's contractor on the Kirkwood Highway reconstruction project, Diamond Materials, will narrow the median, and shift the median and lanes in the 900 block slightly to the north. This will provide the space required for parking on the shoulder when both eastbound lanes of Kirkwood Highway are open.
Residents living along the 900 block of eastbound Kirkwood Highway had for years parked on the shoulder of the highway in front of their homes. However, when the 900 block was reconstructed this summer as part of the Kirkwood Highway reconstruction project, that parking was no longer possible because the former shoulder had been rebuilt as the right-hand travel lane of eastbound Kirkwood Highway.
Concerned residents voiced their concerns to town officials and State Senator Patricia Blevins, and they scheduled a meeting in Elsmere for Aug. 29. DelDOT Secretary Nathan Hayward III attended so he could discuss the situation and potential solutions with everyone involved. "The new course I have set for DelDOT is to be more 'Accessible, Responsive and Efficient'" Secretary Hayward stated, "and we will make ourselves available to citizens, state legislators and local officials to address transportation issues in a timely, creative and consistent manner." During the meeting Secretary Hayward listened to the concerns of the citizens and invited them to directly participate in how the situation would be addressed. At the request of citizens and local and state officials, Secretary Hayward directed DelDOT to re-design and reconstruct the 900 block so that parking would once again be available to residents. He also had the right-hand lane of eastbound Kirkwood Highway closed to traffic so that residents could resume parking along the highway as the 900 block was being re-designed.
The lane closure will remain in effect until the new reconstruction is completed. However, residents are advised that beginning Tuesday, Oct. 16, no daytime parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be possible for approximately three to four weeks as the 900 block of Kirkwood Highway is re-constructed. DelDOT has delivered notices to residents to inform them of the daytime parking ban. Provisions are being made so that residents can park in the 900 block overnight; however, keeping that area clear of vehicles during the daytime is required to enable the contractor to safely and quickly complete the reconstruction work while allowing for one eastbound travel lane. As soon as the work is finished, the daytime parking ban will be lifted and both lanes of eastbound Kirkwood Highway will be opened to through traffic.
The total Kirkwood Highway reconstruction project involves a two-mile section of the highway, from the Route 141 ramps to Route 100, and will feature traffic signal improvements; extensive landscaping in the medians and along sidewalks; the addition of turning lanes, curbing and sidewalks; and the removal of some crossovers. The project will also feature the rotomilling and complete resurfacing with hot mix (asphalt) pavement of Kirkwood Highway.
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