On Monday, July 21, a widening project will begin on existing U.S. 301, from United Drive to U.S. 299. The project is part of the Westtown Master Plan, a coordinated effort between the Delawware Department of Transportation, the Town of Middletown and developers.
    On the U.S. 301 widening project, the construction period will be 28 months. The contractor will mill, overlay and widen existing U.S. 301 from two to four travel lanes, construct curbs, gutters and sidewalks, drainage facilities, stripe the pavement, and install traffic signals communications hardware so the signals can be linked to DelDOT’s Traffic Management Center.
    A-Del Construction Company, of Newark, was the low bidder for this project with a bid of about $11 million. It was the lowest of seven bids received. The low bid was more than $1.5 million under the engineering estimate.
    The widening of existing U.S. 301 is not a part of the proposed new U.S. 301 Project.
    This widening is scheduled to occur between July 21 and March 31, 2009, with intermittent lane closures throughout the length of the project. 
    The Westtown Transportation Improvements Program is a coordinated effort between DelDOT and the Town of Middletown to assure that necessary infrastructure is in place as part of further development in the areas on the southwest side of Town. It is a model that DelDOT is working to implement in other areas of the state where local governments and developers come to the table to plan for infrastructure on a more regional perspective, rather than a piecemeal approach.
    The total cost of the Westtown improvements is more than $30 million, of which approximately two-thirds is envisioned to come from state funding, and approximately one-third from funding from developers. To date, the development community has contributed approximately $4.5 million, either from cash contributions or through building components of the Westtown improvements. Westtown Transportation Improvements include improvements to existing U.S. 301, which is under construction; Levels Rd, which is completed; Bunker Hill Road, which is under construction; St. Annes Church Road, which is in design; and Wiggins Mill Road, which is being designed and will not be in construction for a few years.
    For the latest in traffic and related information, go to DelDOT’s Web site at www.deldot.gov or tune to WTMC-AM 1380.