One of Delaware’s fastest growing transportation corridors is enhancing it curb appeal.
The Delaware Center for Horticulture has teamed up with the State’s Department of Transportation on an on-going Route 40 Median beautification project.
The project, which has been in the works for the past 5 years, spans Route 40 from the Maryland State line to the Route 273 intersection.
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Several medians have been completed while the rest are slated to be planted later this fall or in 2014.
Delaware Center of Horticulture senior project analyst Gary Schwetz says that the medians are designed to stay interesting year round.
“We’ve actually selected perennials and annuals that will give you a season of interest,” said Schwetz. “Whether it is fall color, winter berries, spring flowers, or summer flowers. There is actually a transition of four different types of beauty on these plants.”
DelDOT Secretary Shalin Bhatt says the project is a response to the changing face of the Route 40 corridor, which has quickly become one of Delaware’s busiest roadways.
“Route 40 has transitioned in its character over the years,” said Bhatt. “This would have all been farmland not too many years ago and now it has become much more of a suburban and urban arterial road.”
Bhatt admits that while the project does not improve traffic or safety, it still has benefits for area residents and commuters.
“There is a community benefit if it looks pretty and if it looks nice. Lots of people want these things,” said Bhatt.
Schwetz echoed Bhatt’s sentiments.
“When the roadsides give you the impression that they are being cared for I think that it definitely rubs off on the general public and the businesses along the corridor,” said Schwetz. “If the state is taking care of the roadsides with the help of corporations and others then I think it makes a tremendous difference with residents as well as visitors that come in.”
The voluntary funding from area businesses goes toward the installation and on-going maintenance of the medians. Additional funding is being provided by a coalition of state legislators’ Community Transportation Funds.
