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Elkton Road Construction – Updates

Written on: April 30th, 2012 in Elkton Road

Greggo & Ferrara will continue to grade for curb and sidewalk followed by placement of curb and sidewalk from Lincoln Dr to Veterans Dr with flagger controlled intermittent lane closures. Drainage pipe installation will continue on Apple Rd followed by Verizon underground duct relocation; this work is behind the PCC barrier placed for the southbound Apple Rd closure. Intersection reconstruction and paving will occur this weekend with the closure of Casho Mill Rd/Elkton Rd intersection.

Note: Casho Mill Rd will close from 8 p.m. Friday 5-4 to 10 p.m. Sunday 5-6. Apple Rd southbound closure will be reopened during the Casho Mill Rd closure and will be closed again on Monday 5-7.

Route 54 Project – Updates

Written on: April 27th, 2012 in Route 54

April 26, 2012 – DelDOT is making good progress on the Route 54 construction project, despite a few rain days during the week of April 18-April 26. 

The contractor is continuing to work on installing the three lifts of asphalt pavement. On the north side of the project, the first lift has been completed, and the second lift of asphalt is 90% complete.  The contractor believes the third lift of asphalt will be started around May 1 or 2, but the logistics are still being worked out with the contractor.

We continue to work on finishing concrete work throughout the site and note that the sidewalks on the north side are 60% complete.  Some of this is handwork, so it is more time-consuming.  The contractor will continue to work on the concrete work into early next week.  By May 1^st all sidewalk work should be done on the north side of the road.

Material deliveries to the site have been meeting our expectations, and we are having productive conversations with the contractor.

 During our weekly conference call two issues were raised:

• The need to mark the manhole covers so that they are more visible in the dark or rain.  DelDOT will work with the contractor to get these marked (possibly with reflective tape).
• A request was made to try to have the contractor remove some of the debris on the sides of the road.   DelDOT will work with the contractor to start to get these areas cleaned up.

We continue to make progress in an effort to reach our goal of substantially completing the project by Memorial Day weekend.

For more information, please visit the project page.

Route 54 Project – Updates

Written on: April 25th, 2012 in Route 54

April 13, 2012 –  DelDOT will perform weekend work on April 14 and April 15 . This work is to perform paving operations and will require daytime lane restrictions on April 14 and 15.  DelDOT will be working in earnest to complete as much work as possible before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Also, DelDOT is working with the contractor to establish a work schedule that will likely increase the number of hours worked Monday through Friday, and may involve some additional weekend work according to weather and project requirements.  The potential to accelerate the construction schedule was discussed today with local legislators and business owners on Route 54. As part of these discussions, DelDOT agreed to provide weekly updates as the project draws to a close.

“Our goal remains to balance the wishes of local residents who want the project finished as quickly as possible with those of some business owners who  are sensitive to the impact weekend work has on their customers,” said Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt.  “We will try to avoid the use of lane restrictions unless absolutely necessary, bring road surfaces to a smooth condition as quickly as we can, and have the project as near to completion as possible before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, if not sooner.  Again the objective is to maximize daylight work hours now so that we do not impact traffic Memorial Day weekend and beyond.”

April 20, 2012 – Key Points from Route 54 Public Meeting – Wednesday, April 18, 2012

If you were able to attend out meeting, we thank you for taking time to do so.  If you were unable to attend due to business commitments, we understand.   The following is an overview of the key points that were presented at the meeting:

• Established goal for business owners, the community and DelDOT to have the Route 54 Improvement Project substantially complete by the Wednesday before Memorial Day.  The goal for the next few weeks is to complete curbing, entrance and paving work including  three levels of payment and roadway striping, so that traffic is in its final configuration. 
• Construction staff is working with the contractor and the hot-mix supplier to extend work hours and work weekends for the next several weeks to maximize productivity in support of the goal.
• In addition, DelDOT is having conversations with the Vice President of the current asphalt company to increase the probability that paving asphalt will be available as needed.  DelDOT is also working to secure another source (as backup) of asphalt.
• If weather or material supply impact the schedule and the contractor is only permitted to place two levels of asphalt, DelDOT and the contractor are working on contingency plan to open up the road in its final traffic configuration prior to Memorial Day weekend, and come back later  to complete the final layer of paving.
• In response to several issues raised during the meeting, DelDOT will increase monitoring of the job site overall, including the contractor’s workforce, in an effort to improve the conditions on the project during these last few weeks.
• DelDOT will initiate weekly updates (via email and phone) with key business owners along the corridor and ask them to help us educate the community on the path forward.  Press releases will be done as needed to keep general public informed.
• When we reach the second week of May, DelDOT will make an assessment of progress and the work schedule  to determine what activities remain and whether we can complete the work by the Wednesday before Memorial Day or if we will have to suspend work and come back later to complete the job.

For more information, please visit the project page.

Elkton Road Project Update

Written on: April 17th, 2012 in Elkton Road

Road excavation and GABC stone base placement will occur between Lincoln Dr and Veterans Dr with flagger controlled intermittent lane closures, as needed. Drainage pipe installation will continue between Veterans Dr and Apple Rd with intermittent lane closures. Fine grading of GABC stone base will occur between Casho Mill Rd and Lincoln Dr, no lane restrictions expected. Apple Rd southbound will be closed for road widening and reconstruction and is scheduled to be reopened by May 18th.

Route 54 Project – Updates

Written on: April 4th, 2012 in Route 54

As of March 26 the Contractor has added an additional crew resulting in a total of 3 crews.  The crews are performing excavation of the existing roadway, minor drainage and placement/grading of stone base course for asphalt, curb and sidewalk.  In addition to the 3 crews for the general contractor there is 1 crew for the concrete subcontractor placing curb.  The curb is approximately 60% complete and is expected to be entirely complete in the next week or so.  The concrete subcontractor is expected to begin placement of the sidewalk on April 9th and is expected to take approximately 2 weeks to complete.  Placement of asphalt paving is expected to begin April 9th.  The asphalt consists of multiple layers.  We will begin with placement of the base course.  Following that we will place a wedge course that adjusts the road to the new grades and then on top of that is another base course.  The base course is expected to be approximately 90% complete by the Memorial Day holiday leaving only the small remainder of the base course, the final surface course, final striping and traffic signal work to be complete after Memorial Day.

We are doing our best to limit the use of lane closures, but in the cases where they are needed we are keeping them to a minimum length while still maintaining safety of the motorists and workers.

For more information, please visit the project page.