DelDOT Considers Adding Bike Lanes in Rehoboth Neighborhood

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT SATURDAY... ...COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT IS CANCELLED... * WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...Coastal portions of Wicomico and Somerset Counties. * WHEN...Until 4 AM EDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Shallow flooding is expected in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline resulting in a low threat of property damage. Expect up to one foot of water above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. Some roads and low lying property including parking lots, parks and lawns near the waterfront will experience shallow flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. BISHOPS HEAD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.2 FT, MODERATE 3.7 FT, MAJOR 4.2 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.1 FT, MODERATE 1.6 FT, MAJOR 2.1 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 20/12 AM 3.5 1.4 1.6 1 MINOR 20/12 PM 3.3 1.2 1.5 1-2 NONE 21/12 AM 3.0 0.9 1.1 1-2 NONE 21/01 PM 2.8 0.7 1.0 1 NONE 22/01 AM 3.1 1.0 1.0 1 NONE 22/02 PM 2.6 0.5 0.8 1 NONE CRISFIELD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.3 FT, MODERATE 1.8 FT, MAJOR 2.8 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 19/11 PM 3.4 1.2 1.7 1 NONE 20/11 AM 3.2 1.0 1.4 1 NONE 20/11 PM 2.9 0.7 1.1 1 NONE 21/12 PM 2.7 0.5 0.9 1 NONE 22/12 AM 2.9 0.7 1.0 1 NONE 22/01 PM 2.5 0.3 0.7 1 NONE &&

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- Munchy Branch and Wolfe Neck roads in Rehoboth Beach may have bike lanes in the not too distant future.

The Delaware Department of Transportation is considering adding a 10-foot-wide mixed-use path that both bikers and pedestrians could use. At a recent public workshop, DelDOT presented the plans it came up with after conducting a feasibility study in the neighborhood. DelDOT Bicycle Coordinator John Fiori says local legislators reached out to them after a number of residents complained about dangerous conditions, especially in the summer.

"This time of year, we have a lot of international students. And a lot of those students live off Munchy Branch Road," Fiori says. "A lot of those students when they get off work 11, 12 o clock at night, and they're walking and riding their bikes on a roadway that's only two lanes. It's not well lit [...] so hopefully this will address the concerns from the community as well as helping out the international students."

Fiori says they are still in the concept phase of the project, and it must get approval from legislators before it can become a reality. With that in mind, Fiori says that if approved, construction wouldn't begin for at least another two years. Some in the neighborhood say they hope it happens as soon as possible.

"For the people who go to work in the morning [...] you have bicycles going in the same direction, you have cars trying to get around them and there's just not room for either one of them," Bob Dunbar, who lives off Munchy Branch says. "There is no place else for them to go. So they need some protection."

DelDOT says there's not an accurate cost estimate for the project yet, as it's still in the very early stages, but similar bike path projects have cost around $4 million. The project will also include widening the roadway and adding ADA-compliant sidewalks.