Construction Advisory Group Route 141 – Kirkwood Highway to Faulkland Road MEETING MINUTES – March 8, 2010

Date: March 8, 2010
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: DuPont Chestnut Run Plaza, Bldg. 700
Wilmington, Delaware 19805

Present:
Mr. Charles Stirk – Brookland Terrace
Ms. Phyllis Berggnun – Willow Run
Ms. Theresa Riddleberger – Willow Run
Mrs. Edie Realey – Willow Run X
Mr. Robert Bristow - DuPont
Mr. Pete Hayward – Resident
Mr. William Wheatley – Brookland Terrace
Mr. Bernie Berggun – Willow Run
Mr. Thomas Slaughter – Willow Run
Ms. Sherry Fornwalt – Willow Run
Mr. Bill Osborne – TMA
Mr. Michael Alfree – DSYF/DMSS
Mr. Tom Brooks - DelDOT
Mr. Harry Cooper – DelDOT
Mr. Mark Buckalew – DelDOT
Mr. Robert King – DelDOT

Bob King called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with an announcement that since the project will be nearing its completion in the fall, the next working group meeting scheduled for June 14th will probably be the last.

Mark Buckalew updated the group on the project’s progress during construction:
Construction Status
Unfortunately we were not able to switch traffic on Feb. 11 due to inclement weather. A new traffic switch date has not yet been determined to move SB traffic onto the reconstructed portion of SR 141.
Currently we are working on:
Reconstructing Faulkland Rd. on the future EB lanes.
Installation of new curb along NB SR 141 at the beginning of the project limits.
The Artesian Water main relocation work has been completed along Faulkland Rd.


Switching traffic into the Phase 4 pattern before the next public workshop.

Tom Brooks reported to the group that landscape design will be started this summer and will possibly be discussed during the next working group meeting.
General discussion ensued:

There was a question as to when the sign for Walnut Street be changed to Walnut Avenue – Tom Brooks to follow up on this and report back to the group. Addendum: Tom reported on follow-up that the sign changes will be made by DelDOT.

There was a question about when the painting with anti-graffiti coating of Bridge 143 be accomplished. – Answer: At the very end of the project.

There was an issue with the drainage grates by the bridge rattling when driven over. Response: They will be welded.

There was question if there would be new bushes planted along the new fence by the Woodland Apts. Response: Yes there will be, within the next few weeks.

Will the lane markings be reflective? Response, Yes.

There was a question as to when the center of Ferris Road be repaved. – Tom Brooks to
follow up on this and report back to the group. Addendum: Tom reported on follow-up that Pavement Management is aware of the roadway condition. Its condition did not rank high enough on last years roadway inventory review to be repaved. Pavement Management will make an evaluation again this year.

There was a complaint about the noise of traffic traveling over the four loose catch basin grates that are in the temporary right NB lane of SR 141. The grates have been welded as well as they can be. Cast iron doesn't allow for a strong weld so we are re-welding them every few months to prevent them from "bouncing" out of the frame.

There was a request that a “Do Not Enter” sign be placed facing 141at the exit of Gilpin and 141 by Five Star Pizza. – Tom Brooks to follow up on this, and will report back to the group. Addendum: Tom reported on follow-up that this has been assigned to an engineer in Traffic for evaluation and recommendation.



It was reported that the lights are out on the #600’s Bridges – Tom Brooks to follow up on this and report back to the group. Addendum: Tom reported on follow-up that DelDOT Maintenance group is aware of the outages and is making the necessary repairs. They reported back that water from melting snow and heavy rains is getting into the pole bases where it shorts out the system. Apparently this is a state wide DelDOT problem.

The residents from Willow Run have an issue with traffic on northbound Montgomery RD that are cutting through the small island opening the wrong way to get to the Pizza shop. They would like DelDOT to place a ‘DO NOT ENTER’ sign to discourage this movement. Motorists wanting to go to the pizza shop only need to make left at the end of the island on Gilpin DR. Tom Brooks to follow up on this and report back to group
Addendum: Tom reported on follow-up that this has been assigned to an engineer in Traffic for evaluation and recommendation.

Another issue came from Ferris School. Apparently when traffic is backed up along Faulkland Road, motorists are cutting through their campus to make the left onto SR141 at the Ferris/DuPont signal. The Ferris School is concerned about the safety of their students and staff walking around campus with the additional through traffic. They are asking for DelDOT to place a ‘NO THROUGH TRAFFC’ sign along their Faulkland Road entrance. Tom will follow up on this and report back to the group. Addendum: On March 19th Mark Buckalew reported that he will be speaking with the people at Ferris.

The overall timing of the project is that the project team expects to finish off by the end of October, or possibly into early November of this year.

Following these questions, the meeting ended at about 5:35 p.m.

PROJECT UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT:

On Tuesday, April 13th, DelDOT will be shifting traffic into the Phase 4 pattern along Route 141. This will entail moving the southbound Route 141 traffic onto the newly constructed southbound lanes. This will separate the northbound and the southbound traffic to either side of the proposed median and allow the new median to be constructed. Northbound Route 141 traffic will not be affected by this switch.





NEXT MEETING:

Monday, June 14th - 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






















Construction Advisory Group
Route 141 – Kirkwood Highway to Faulkland Road
MEETING MINUTES – March 8, 2010