Brandywine Hundred, Del. — 

This spring, DelDOT plans to install a missing sidewalk link along the north side of Foulk Road, spokesman Bob King said. Construction will begin at Weldin Road and extend to Wynnewood Road, King said, adding the project will take 100 days to complete.

The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will fund the $2.6 million project, he said. The project will also include American with Disabilities Act improvements to intersections in the area.

Jeff Niezgoda, planning supervisor for DelDOT, said the initiative was designed to promote safer pedestrian passage. State Rep. Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley) believes the project will also offer convenience to area families who are interested in bike riding and visiting Alapocas Run State Park.

“My family and I ride our bike down Foulk Road and it’s an adventure,” Lavelle said. “The sidewalk will make it more family friendly.”

While the missing sidewalk link was first proposed by Councilman Robert Weiner (R-Chatham) in July 2007, the project has been delayed because of a lack of available funding and design challenges, Niezgoda said. DelDOT initially intended to construct the project on the south side of Foulk Road, but then discovered there would be a disruption to utilities serving the Brandywine Hundred Apartment complex, thus driving up the cost, he said.

As DelDOT moves closer to the start of the project, Tuckaway resident Anand Dhelia said the community is optimistic about the completion of the sidewalk.

“Everybody is excited about it,” Dhelia said. “Today we have to get in our car to drive to the park. But [with the completion of the sidewalk], we can choose the healthier option which is to walk.”

DelDOT says it plans to install a fence near the Jewish Community Cemetery, as a way to prevent pedestrians from trespassing through the cemetery.

Jewish Community Cemetery Association President Bob Berman said he and his colleagues requested a fence be installed near the facility, since they are concerned the completion of the sidewalk link would draw more pedestrians on Foulk Road and potential trouble.

“We’ve had problems in years past with pranks, especially during Halloween, with people knocking over tomb stones,” Berman said.

 

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150 Acreage of the Alapocas Run State Park, which will be linked to Brandywine Hundred after the construction of a missing link of Foulk Road sidewalk.

The Delaware Department of Transportation expects to make life easier for pedestrians near Deerhurst, Tuckaway and Fairfax.