Project Status

March 27, 2008

Construction for the Bear Area Pedestrian Improvements, which began in May of 2007, was completed in early 2008. The improvements provided sidewalk along Rivers End Drive and Taylor Drive, an asphalt shared-use bicycle/pedestrian path along Smalleys Dam Road from Songsmith Drive to Rivers End Drive and an asphalt shared-use bicycle/pedestrian path along Newtown Road from Brookfield Drive to SR 7. In addition, bus stops were improved and Taylor Drive was repaved.

Public Workshops

July 15, 2004 Public Workshop

Forty-nine residents of the communities along Rivers End Drive, Providence Drive, and Taylor Drive attended a workshop held on Thursday, July 15, 2004 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church. The original project scope involved the construction of sidewalks along Rivers End Drive and possibly along Providence Drive and Taylor Drive. As a result of the feedback received from the public workshop and a petition against sidewalks along Providence Drive from residents in the vicinity, Providence Drive was removed from the project scope. Taylor Drive remained in the project scope; however, residents and DelDOT agreed that sidewalk on both sides was not necessary. The project scope on Rivers End Drive did not change as a result of the public workshop.

Smalleys Dam Road was added to the project scope at the request of Representative Melanie George Marshall. This portion of the project will provide a connection among sidewalks along Rivers End Drive, Taylor Drive, and Songsmith Drive, as well as a proposed trail along Newtown Road.