Elkton repairs continue

According to Richard Lapointe, director of public works for the city of Newark, officials expect the construction on Elkton Road to be completed in December, more than two years after the project began. 

Construction crews have made a number of alterations to the one-mile section of Elkton Road that runs from Delaware Avenue to Cashew Mill Road since October 2010, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation press release. The construction will repair the road surface and improve safety and traffic operations by adding turn lanes, bike lanes and new sidewalks.

Freshman Abbie Small said the current construction at the Amstel Avenue crosswalk causes frustrating delays. However, she said she believes the workers directing traffic are doing their best to minimize the inconvenience to students.

“They are pretty friendly and helpful with getting across [the street],” Small said. “It’s a little bit of an extra hassle when you’re running late.”

Holly Jones, the manager of Claymont Steak Shop, said the construction has significantly impacted sales over the past two years. The restaurant, which opened in December 2009, started out their second year in 2011 with several months of sales up by approximately 10 percent. However, the company closed the year with an estimated 10 percent decrease since 2010.

Jones said she attributes the reversal in sales to the closing of Amstel Avenue for the summer of 2011, which she was originally told would only take two to three weeks.

“In general, who wants to drive through this?” Jones said. “If you didn’t have to drive down here, you wouldn’t.”

She said she frequently attends DelDOT monthly meetings to stay informed on the progress of the construction. While unhappy with the sales decrease, she said she feels officials make a conscious effort to keep communication between the city and businesses easy.

Since the completion of construction on Apple Road, Rite Aid manager Michael Rubolino has seen the return of customers.

“Since [construction] flipped to the other side, we’ve increased in business,” Rubolino said. “So far this year, I believe our sales are up 12 percent and [prescriptions] are up 15 percent.”

Jones said if the change brings in more business, however, it could be worth the hassle.