Milton officials finalizing report on Magnolia Street project

Milton officials are preparing a final scope of work and cost estimates for a bulkhead and drainage project at the municipal parking lot on Magnolia Street.

Public Works Director Greg Wingo submitted a report to Town Manager Kristy Rogers Friday, Sept. 30. Rogers will then review the report before presenting it to Town Council in November.

The town has received a $435,000 in state funding for the project, which calls for a rain garden to alleviate drainage problems at the parking lot and repair the bulkhead along the Broadkill River. The project was first announced in January, and the concept was approved by council in March.

The project has been delayed, in part, because the bulkhead was more deteriorated than originally thought. Rogers said town engineers are trying to ascertain whether to just repair the bulkhead or replace it entirely. “We don’t want to repair the bulkhead now and then five years from now have to replace it,” she said. 

Besides the bulkhead, the project calls for a rain garden near Bodie’s convenience store, three new drainage pipes emptying into the Broadkill River and reorienting the parking lot.

While it would not stop any water that breaches the bulkhead, town officials say these drainage improvements would stop nuisance flooding that affects the entrance to the lot and part of Magnolia Street.

The most controversial aspect of the plan when it was presented in March was the proposed removal of 18 parking spaces to accommodate the rain garden. The original plans called for removing 20 spaces, but town officials said slight modifications allowed for two spaces to be saved.

The town has been talking with the Milton Historical Society to use land next to the Lydia Cannon Museum that can fit 14 parking spaces. Historical society Executive Director Mary Knight said nothing has happened yet as far as an agreement, and nothing has been presented to council.