Collins Street Residents in Bethany Beach call for more communication on sidewalk expansion project

BETHANY BEACH, Del. – Residents of Collins Street in Bethany Beach are asking for more communication from the town of Bethany Beach on a project that’s set to widen the road to make way for a pedestrian walkway and larger lanes.

Residents tell 47ABC they have been given a start date of “Late Fall” by the town, and have not heard from them on construction since a July town council session, despite requesting details multiple times from the town.

“This is a major construction, all of Collins Street will look like a three-lane road, although part of it will be this walkway and buffer, so it really does impact us, all of us, the people on the south side will have that addition, the road will in essence shift north by three feet,” said Resident Jenn Carter.

Carter and other residents called for the town to also conduct an environmental impact study of the project citing issues with flooding and still water on the street.

Carter says the town did announce they would use permeable concrete, which allows for drainage, as part of the project but did not commission the study.

Resident Lothar Schappeler says in correspondence with the town he was promised a copy and to speak with the civic engineers behind the project to address the drainage before construction began.

He says he has yet to hear from them and fears the project will begin before he hears back.

“I addressed five direct questions to the town to the Mayor, and what I heard back is when they submit info for the project to Sussex County they will send it to me, so here we sit with absolutely no documentation,” Schappler said.

The residents say they want a clear start date for the proceedings so that they can be home as the project is set to transform large parts of the properties on the street.

47ABC reached out to the Bethany Beach Town Hall and did not hear back.