Paved shoulders not likely for Rehoboth’s Surf Avenue

Sometime in the next couple of months, Rehoboth Beach’s Surf Avenue will be repaved as part of the city’s annual street paving program. However, it doesn’t appear that the shoulders of the highly trafficked road are going to be included.

During a Dec. 3 streets and transportation committee meeting, Public Works Director Kevin Williams asked members their thoughts on the possibility of paving the Surf Avenue shoulders.

Given the increased use of Surf Avenue by bicyclists traveling the Junction & Breakwater Trail from Lewes to Rehoboth, all the members thought it would be a good idea.

David Mann, committee member, said ideally the shoulders would be paved, with the vehicular travel lane moved to enable two bicycle travel lanes. 

Donna Mabry said right now, sand and gravel find their way onto Surf Avenue and can make the road unsafe to ride on.

Williams said restriping the road to accommodate two vehicle travel lanes and two bike lanes wasn’t necessarily part of the contract.

Mann said he would be fine with that, because paving the shoulders would allow for flexibility in the future. 

In an email Dec. 9, Williams said the city was still analyzing the possibility, but he didn’t think it looked too promising. The city is getting some cost estimates from the contractor, but it also appears that there are some grade issues affecting stormwater, he said.

Silent policeman recommended for King Charles intersection

For years, the streets and transportation committee has recommended the installation of crosswalks at intersections along King Charles Avenue, one of the widest streets in Rehoboth Beach.

However, said Mann, due to the width of the road, a landing area for pedestrians is required halfway across.

Williams estimated it would cost approximately $50,000 per intersection to make code-compliant crosswalks along King Charles. It’s not at the top of the list for improvements, he said.

Ultimately, after the committee talked about trying to do something to improve street-crossing safety, they recommended to city commissioners the installation of a silent policeman at the intersection with New Castle Street.

Rehoboth Avenue crosswalk near Fourth, Fifth streets

Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski, committee chair, began the meeting with a brief update on a proposed crosswalk between Fourth and Fifth streets on Rehoboth Avenue. He said Delaware Department of Transportation has conducted a needs study on the area, and he was trying to get that study for the next meeting.

Committee members agreed it was best to postpone a conversation on the issue until they’ve all seen the report.

Sharrows to be painted

Williams said dozens of sharrows – a symbol painted onto streets with a bike and arrows indicating bicyclists use the road too – are expected to be painted sometime in 2022 before the summer season starts. He reminded committee members that city commissioners have already approved the bike-safety measure.