Milton trail lights start to come online

The Town of Milton has begun turning on the lights at the Rails to Trails.

The first set of lights was turned on at the beginning of February from the footbridge to Lavinia Street. These are bollard lights positioned to shine downward toward the trail and designed to prevent light from shining behind and skyward. In all, 35 bollard lights with poles were installed along this trail section.

Town Manager Kristy Rogers said Delmarva Power has not yet turned on the remaining lights, which cover the footbridge and the trail section running from the bridge to Federal Street.

Lighting the trail was a fairly controversial measure for much of 2019 and 2020; the town wanted the lights in order to improve safety, while residents of West Shore Drive in Wagamon’s West Shores, which abuts the trail, were concerned that lights would affect their quality of life and encourage 24/7 trail use.

Milton Town Council then formed an ad hoc committee of town officials and residents who came up with a plan for the trail to be lit in three segments. From Federal Street to the trestle bridge are GranVille lights, which feature an acorn shape, and shoebox lights. The first light would be 80 feet from the trail entrance, with other lights placed 150 to 176 feet apart. The shoebox fixture is closest to the bridge and includes additional shielding to keep from shining too much light toward homes in Wagamon’s West Shores.

At the hill where the trail splits, there will be five lights, four GranVille and one shoebox. The shoebox fixture is closest to the bridge, followed by three GranVille lights between 136 and 160 feet apart. The last GranVille light would be across from West Shore Drive in front of the trail entrance. 

Finally, from the bridge to Lavinia Street are the bollard lights, which were contracted out, while the rest of the lights and conduits were supplied by Delmarva Power.

The overall project cost an estimated $195,000, which includes installing lights and conduits, with the town and the state splitting costs 50/50, or $97,500 each.