DelDOT may study pedestrian bridge in Rehoboth

Delaware Department of Transportation officials say a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal is possible, and the department is willing to study the feasibility of building it.

However, DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan said because of the cost and complexity of a new bridge, “We would need both the legislative and locally elected officials to agree to a path forward for such a plan to be considered.”

Cohan said a 220-foot-long stationary pedestrian bridge in New Castle County will cost about $1.4 million. She said a moveable bridge would have additional upfront costs, plus higher maintenance and operational costs. In addition, Cohan said, DelDOT would have to purchase property on both sides of the canal owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private owners.

Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, said he is skeptical a separate pedestrian/bicycle bridge is possible. He said while there has been some very preliminary talk, there were a lot of issues to work out, the biggest being that the state does not own the right-of-way on either side of the canal.

“It would be easier if we owned the right-of-way,” Schwartzkopf said.

He said it could take years to get permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for use of the canal banks. Schwartzkopf also said there are design issues with building the bridge high enough to allow sailboats to get through.

“It would be nice if we could do it,” he said, but he questions the feasibility of the project.

DelDOT has proposed a plan to extend the Junction and Breakwater Trail into Rehoboth Beach. From Church Street, the proposed extension would use the westbound lane of Rehoboth Avenue Extended over the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge, where the sidewalks would be widened to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. Using the sidewalk in front of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce visitor’s center, the route would turn left at the traffic circle along a sidewalk adjacent to Grove Park. Finally, cyclists would turn right on Henlopen Avenue, which leads toward Gordons Pond. Schwartzkopf and Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, have asked DelDOT to reconsider the route; instead of traveling to the traffic circle, cyclists would pass through Grove Park to Henlopen Avenue. They have said going through Grove Park would be less expensive and safer.

Cohan said, “Over the past few years, DelDOT has invested nearly $30 million in state and federal funds on projects for all modes of transportation to assist our residents and guests as they move around the community of Rehoboth. These efforts will continue, as we have more projects scheduled for the near future in and around Rehoboth.”