DelDOT planning trail extension into Rehoboth

Delaware Department of Transportation says design work on a proposed Rehoboth Beach extension of the Junction Breakwater Trail could be finished by next summer.

DelDOT spokesman Jim Westhoff said there is no firm timetable or cost estimates for the time. John Hermes of DelDOT told the Rehoboth streets and transportation committee that he anticipated a two-year process, with planning the first year and construction taking another year.

Hermes said the plan's goal is to keep bicycle and pedestrian traffic on one side of the road heading into Rehoboth and get traffic onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended but not crossing it.

“That’s the problem right now, people are riding all over,” he said.

Hermes said the plan calls for the two prongs of the trail to be connected on Hebron Road.

From there, the trail would travel on Canal Road to Church Street connecting onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended. From there, the trail will cross the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Bridge toward the traffic circle.

The trail currently ends at Hebron Road and Holland Glade Road outside Rehoboth. A second prong of the trail leads through the woods and also ends at Hebron Road.

To get to Rehoboth Avenue Extended, DelDOT has planned several alternate routes, including going down and then across Church Street onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended. Another proposal would cut through a planned development next to Shoal Harbor and come out on Rehoboth Avenue Extended. Hermes said the developer has agreed to construct and pay for the trail connection through to Rehoboth Avenue Extended.

Hermes said the Church Street section is one of the most difficult because so much traffic uses it, particularly during the summer. He said the plan there would be to widen the existing bike lane and keep bicycle traffic from making left hand turns onto Rehoboth Avenue Extended.

DelDOT’s plans call for new 10-foot paths on one side of the road leading to the entrance to Rehoboth. The north side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Bridge would be widened to provide a 10-foot, two-way access path for bike and pedestrian traffic.

For the committee, the major issue was a lack of signs around Rehoboth telling people where the trail is and how to use it.

“I’m concerned because I can see the work that has been put in to this, but we’re talking about potentially thousands of bicyclists showing up. We could at least make it safer,” board member Kathy Osterholm said.

She added that bicyclists mainly want to know where the beach and Gordon’s Pond are, so informational signs should be put up to give the safest route there. Osterholm said those signs could be put up now, while DelDOT is finalizing longterm plans for the trail extension.

Committee member Cindy Lovett recommended DelDOT study the traffic patterns around the proposed extension during a busy weekend, like Memorial Day.

Hermes said DelDOT intends to continue accepting input from Rehoboth civic groups, such as the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, before finalizing the design.