A proposed roundabout along the Philadelphia Pike faced pushback from Claymont area residents.
The Wilmington Area Planning Council held four workshops starting in February of last year after hearing community safety concerns along Philadelphia Pike.
In response, it drafted three concepts for the corridor in Claymont. The first would improve current infrastructure, and the second would extend the road diet process.
The third envisions a roundabout connecting Philadelphia Pike and Gov. Printz Boulevard that could work in tandem with either of the first two concepts.
WILMAPCO principal planner Heather Dunigan said data points to roundabouts and road diets as some of the safest additions that can be made.
“Unfortunately, there is no consensus of the community, except probably consensus that they don't agree with, across the board…” Dunigan said. “There are so many competing priorities across the state for our very limited transportation money. We're not interested in pushing something on a community that doesn't want it.”
About 80 attended a Wednesday workshop at The Waterfall on the Philadelphia Pike plans, with the majority against the roundabout.
State Rep. Larry Lambert (D-Claymont) said he thinks the concepts were put together with good intentions but do not adequately incorporate community input.
“We look out for each other, and in that regard, some of these solutions were really more economic development focused, as opposed to community focused and family focused,” Lambert said. “Those are the priorities that we have here.”
Roundabouts are often cheaper to maintain than traffic signals, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The FHA also cited a 2001 study that finds roundabouts can reduce fatalities by more than 90 percent.
Residents largely voiced concerns for pedestrian safety and congestion if a roundabout is installed. WILMAPCO is not moving forward with any of its concepts.
WILMAPCO has a survey open through the end of the month for residents to weigh in.
