Becker presents update for Lewes homeowners

Completion of a major street project, new natural gas service, and progress on a long-planned road, were topics members of the Lewes Homeowners Association heard updates about at the group's annual state of the city presentation.

“It’s hard to think of what I could tell you that you don’t already know,” Ted Becker said to the group of about 30 homeowners at the Sept. 28 gathering at Lewes Public Library. Becker, a Lewes City councilman, is deputy mayor.  Lewes Mayor Jim Ford has provided the update for the past several years, but Becker said he was standing in because Ford wasn’t feeling well.

Becker said completion of Bay Avenue’s restoration was the most significant event in Lewes during the past year.

He said upgrading the water and sewer system beneath Bay Avenue and resurfacing the street had been talked about for more than two decades.

“It was a long project, but the net result is everybody got something they wanted,” he said about the project that took about 18 months to complete.

The city and Lewes Board of Public Works evenly split the $3.1 million restoration costs.

Becker said the restoration retained the street’s 12-foot width, which kept its ambiance and character. He said every intersection on the street has a stop sign; the road has a marked designated bicycle lane, and its water-permeable asphalt surface is designed to improve drainage. Bay Avenue and other city residents and city and state officials celebrated street’s completion at a Sept. 5 ribbon-cutting.

“If you drive over there, make sure you’re going in the right direction,” Becker said. He said changing the street’s one-way traffic pattern was an idea that came from Bay Avenue residents.

Becker said the city and Delaware Department of Transportation are partnering to repair Monroe Avenue at the railroad crossing.

He said the city is contributing $13,000 from its municipal street aid fund, and DelDOT would pay the project’s $27,000 balance. Construction will require closing the street for several days when it starts later the month, but officials expect the inconvenience will be worthwhile. “It won’t tear the bottom of your car out,” Becker said.

Restoration of Madison Avenue would be the next street project, Becker said. He said the project had been slated to begin in 2006-2007, but Bay Avenue took precedence. At a cost of about $800,000, the street’s water and sewer lines are being replaced and the street resurfaced. He said the project is funded by a $19 million bond issue in 2005.

Becker reported Chesapeake Utilities Corp. recently held its third informational forum about providing natural gas service to residential and commercial customers. He said about 40 people attended the session at City Hall.

This month, the company will give downtown historic district residents and business owners information about the possibility of receiving natural gas service. Becker said Chesapeake Utilities uses a formula to determine where it’s economically feasible to provide service. The company provides natural gas to Beebe Medical Center and SPI Pharma and has committed to connect City Hall, Becker said.

He said significant progress has been made in establishing a connector road between New Road and the public boat launch at the north end of Pilottown Road.

Becker said the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is the state agency that is most likely to have jurisdiction over the road although it could fall to Delaware Department of Transportation. Neither agency wanted responsibility for the road’s construction and ongoing maintenance costs.

The connector road’s purpose is to reduce or eliminate towed boats along Front Street and through Pilottown Road’s residential area.

Becker said the University of Delaware is concerned about the connector road and officials have made clear they do not want boat traffic using a university road that connects New and Pilottown roads.

Update on natural gas

Chesapeake Utility Corp. representatives will present information in Lewes about connecting to natural gas service. The forum will be at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22, at St. Peters Episcopal Church annex, at Second and Market streets.