WILMINGTON — “We want to hear from you” was the overall message at a public meeting at the Wilmington Municipal Building on Thursday afternoon on the upcoming Rombach Avenue street project.
“The idea for this meeting was really more for our benefit,” said Safety/Service Director Brian Shidaker. “We want to hear ideas from the community on what they like about Rombach Avenue, and what they don’t like. Then give us ideas on how to make this better.”
Shidaker told attendees they’re looking at everything from paving to pedestrian crossings to the traffic lights — which Shidaker indicated were outdated.
“Everything is on the table,” said Shidaker.
The project area stretches from First Financial Bank around College Street to the corporation limits around Starbuck and Wilson Roads, and would include East Side Drive. The project is set to start in March 2020 with LJB Inc. engineering firm helping.
Currently they’re in the planning phase and want to get local feedback.
Attendees were given a questionnaire to fill out and submit by April 12 in regards to what they like and dislike about Rombach Avenue currently, and what they’d like the city focus on.
When asked to identify specific problems that Rombach has now, Shidaker highlighted two at the forum.
“One is the condition of the pavement itself. It is aging, deteriorating, I don’t believe there’s been any major significant rehabilitation to the pavement in 15 or 20 years,” he said.
The other item is safety, with additional focus on pedestrian safety.
Shidaker along with Safety/Service Coordinator Andrea Tacoronte welcome any and all input from the public; they prefer it be handwritten and submitted to the Safety/Service Office or email them at [email protected]
Shidaker hopes to hold another meeting soon in the evening, sometime before April 12.
If citizens have questions about the meeting or the project, contact Shidaker at 937-382-6509 or email him at [email protected].
