LEWES, Del.- Construction in downtown Lewes is nearing a conclusion.
On Tuesday, the final paving on Front Street took place, the last big piece of the months-long project. After paving, contractors will stripe the road. After lighting and landscaping improvements, Board of Public Works General Manager Darrin Gordon says the entire project will be complete. Gordon says if weather cooperates, the project will be done by April 4th-- one month ahead of schedule.
"This is sort of the backbone infrastructure wise, water and sewer," he says. "Now we can really concentrate on improving water quality and making sure we still provide the very best services that the utility can."
Gordon says some smaller projects will take place in the winter, but Front Street will be free of the work that's dominated it for years.
"This project has run over two winter seasons completely and we are very happy that the merchants have been so cooperative," says Mayor Ted Becker. "We recognize this has created some hardship for them but we are very happy to see what's coming out of it."
Becker says the Front Street improvements are similar to those done on 2nd Street ten years ago. Tim Southerst owns the Puzzles store on Front Street and says they are ready for the work to be wrapping up.
"Thank you to the community and visitors for supporting us in some very hard times over the total eight months this project has been running in different phases," Southerst tells WRDE. "We are just very excited to see the backend of it and to revert to normalcy."
The city also improved and flattened the 1812 Parking Lot on Front Street. Mayor Becker says the new lot will be easier for those with mobility issues.
For more on the project, click here.