Route 141 – Kirkwood Highway to Faulkland Road
MEETING MINUTES – November 10, 2008
Date: November 10, 2008
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: DuPont Chestnut Run Plaza, Bldg. 700
Wilmington, Delaware 19805
Present:
Mr. Larry Mitchell – State Representative
Mr. Joseph Reda – New Castle County Councilman
Mr. Bill Osborne – TMA
Mr. Robert Bristow – DuPont Co.
Mr. Michael Alfree – DSYF/DMSS
Mr. Pete Hayward – Resident
Mr. Mike MacDowell – Woodland Heights
Mr. Charles Stirk – Brookland Terrace
Ms. Phyllis Berggnun – Willow Run
Mr. Bernie Berggnun – Willow Run
Ms. Theresa Riddleberger – Willow Run
Mrs. Edie Realey – Willow Run
Mr. Tom Brooks – DelDOT
Mr. Harry Cooper – DelDOT
Mr. Mark Buckalew – DelDOT
Ms. Misty Seemans – DelDOT
Misty Seemans called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. She told those present that Ms. Sullivan’s fence has been installed.
Tom Brooks discussed business regarding design:
1. Working on revision plans for a wall on the northbound side of Route 141.
2. Has decided to move forward with a wrought iron fence with landscaping along Field Road.
3. Working on revision plans for a retaining wall.
General discussion ensued:
· A resident discussed congestion problems between moving vehicles and parked vehicles on West Gilpin Drive. Tom said the situation is temporary. Two lanes of traffic have been shifted to the westbound side of West Gilpin Drive while the eastbound side is being worked on. Traffic will be shifted to the eastbound direction when the westbound side is worked on. Eventually, eastbound and westbound traffic will be divided by a median.
· Councilman Joseph Reda commented that if the shoulders are too wide, vehicles will continue to park on the road, creating similar congestion problems in the future.
· A resident asked what the open, empty space at the most western part of West Gilpin Drive is. Tom explained that area would be where vehicles will turn left to get to Montgomery Road.
· A resident asked that with hundreds of residents living in Willow Run and the queue at the Montgomery Extension traffic signal to turn on to Route 141, will there be a stop sign at the intersection of Montgomery Road and Montgomery Extension? Tom said that Montgomery Road would be one way south of the Extension.
· A resident asked about the volume of residents versus the amount of exits out of Willow Run. Tom said the entrances and exits into Willow Run on Faulkland Road would be sufficient to handle traffic. A resident commented that the traffic signal at Faulkland Road and Route 141 is timed better for vehicles to turn on to Route 141 than the signal at Montgomery Extension and Route 141.
· A resident asked if the traffic signal on southbound Route 141 to Montgomery Extension would have a left arrow signal. Tom said yes.
· Councilman Reda asked about plans for a four-way crosswalk at Route 141 and Faulkand Road. Tom said the timing of the pedestrian crosswalk would not override traffic flow. In other words, when a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk button to cross Route 141 or Faulkland Road, she or he will still have to wait for the traffic signal to turn red and then the crosswalk signal will be activated. General discussion ensued about the safety of pedestrians. Harry Cooper explained that pedestrians will be able to cross the roads but will have to wait for the traffic signal before she or he can cross.
· Councilman Reda asked if the effects of proposed development in the vicinity has been taken into account regarding the project.
· A resident asked about left turns into the Chestnut Run Shopping Center from Faulkland Road. Tom explained that there would be traffic signals (and two entrances) into the shopping center, like now. There will be a left turn lane. Tom said the northern entrance on Faulkand Road would be the main entrance and exit. Vehicles will be able to turn left out of the center on to westbound Faulkland Road. The southern entrance of the shopping center on Faulkland Road will not allow left turns out of the center; only right turns.
· A resident asked what the open space north of West Gilpin Drive, along Route 141, is. Mark Buckalew explained that the space is the future northbound Route 141 lanes.
Mark updated the group on the project’s progress during construction:
· The project is slightly behind schedule but will be able to make up some time in winter.
· The following work is being done:
1. The bridge deck and parapet on Bridge 1-143 that is over Little Mill Creek.
2. Mark asked the community for its assistance regarding the retaining wall along the ramp from Route 2/Kirkwood Highway. The wall will be painted to look like stone and covered with an anti-graffiti covering. But, the graffiti would have to be power washed off within two weeks of contact. Mark asked the community to keep an eye on the wall and report when it has been tagged. The police’s graffiti hotline is (302) 571-7332, in New Castle County. The other option is for a member of the community to power wash it him or herself.
General discussion ensued:
· A resident asked about landscaping along a proposed fence on Field Road. Harry said trees would be planted along the fence.
· A resident asked about whether the public would be able to contribute input on landscaping in the median. Tom said the design is a year out but the public will be asked for input.
Mark continued to update the group on the project’s progress during construction:
· The following work is being done:
1. Bridge I-600, which is over the Kirkwood Highway, is almost complete. There are some add-ons to the bridge expansion dams that will need to be replaced before the bridge is complete.
2. Paving the future northbound Route 141 travel lanes.
3. Montgomery Road is complete and partially open to traffic. Work is focused on completing the Gilpin Road portion so that two-way traffic will not affect the parking area in front of the strip mall on Montgomery Road.
4. The ramp from Route 2/Kirkwood Highway onto northbound Route 141 will remain closed until the ramp reconstruction is complete. The ramp will re-open in February 2009.
5. Work has started on the approach slabs of Bridge 604, which is over the southbound ramp from westbound Kirkwood Highway to Route 141. This will not have much impact on the community.
General discussion ensued:
· Michael Alfree of DSYF/DMSS asked if and when DelDOT would create a pathway so employees could cross from Ferris to Faulkland Road, which is now blocked by a dirt mound. Harry said utility work was responsible for creating the mound and laying the loose stone instead of hot mix. Mr. Alfree asked if DelDOT could improve the walkway. Mark said drainage is an issue but would look into a possible solution.
· Mr. Alfree said DelDOT needs to remove some damaged shrubs at the Faulkand Road entrance to Ferris. Mark said it would be taken care of.
· A resident asked about the upcoming traffic shift. Mark said details would be forthcoming at the next meeting. The resident asked if four lanes would be maintained. Mark said yes.
· A businessperson asked about the installation of sidewalks in the Route 141 and Faulkland Road intersection area. Mark said a portion south on Faulkand Road would occur within the month. The area north would be done in late December.
Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:29 p.m. with the next meeting scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2008 at 5 p.m.
NEXT MEETING:
Monday, Jan. 12th - 5:00PM
DuPont Chestnut Run Plaza
Building 700
Cafeteria
Directions: Use Route 141 entrance, north of the Faulkland Road intersection
Travel on South Mall Road
Left on Third Street
At stop sign, left on North Mall Road
Parking is available on all four sides of Building 700
The main entrance faces North Mall Road
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