Street, sidewalk improvements planned in Dewey

Areas targeted for improvement in a 2019 ADA assessment in Dewey Beach will continue with a two-phase construction approach beginning with the 2024-25 winter season, a state contractor detailed during the monthly commissioners meeting Feb. 16.

The goal is full ADA compliance within town limits, said Kyle Clevenger of Whitman, Requardt and Associates. Phase one will be fast-tracked, as no utility relocations or right-of-way acquisitions are needed, he said.

This phase will include extending the post-and-rope center island pedestrian barrier on Coastal Highway from Saulsbury Street north to Clayton Street and from Collins Avenue north to Read Avenue, Clevenger said. The project will include plantings and gateway improvements leading into town, he said.

Additional projects include constructing bump-outs to improve pedestrian safety and reduce turning speeds at select intersections, and reconstructing and smoothing of driveway entrances that pose tripping hazards on Coastal Highway, he said.

Phase two is still in the design phase and does not yet have a targeted start date, Clevenger said. This work may include potential utility relocations and/or right-of-way acquisitions to complete remaining improvements.

Regarding telephone poles located within sidewalks on Coastal Highway, Clevenger said bump-outs would be created for certain locations that extend into the roadway while maintaining the bike lane. 

For the one or two poles where this is not possible because of nearby loading zones, an easement may be needed to widen the property at the pole, he said.