kennett bikeway project
Project Lead Team
| Kennett Township Planning Commission | John Haedrich |
| Kennett Township Board of Supervisors (retired) | Tom Nale |
| Kennett Township Secretary & Treasurer | Lisa Moore |
| Urban Engineers | Pat Dougherty |
| Tom Comitta Associates | Tom Comitta |
| Gilmore Associates | Bob Johnston |
Project Summary
The Kennett Pike Bikeway will upgrade the existing ROW to allow pedestrians and cyclists safe access to this important segment at the northern end of the historic Kennett Pike.
Founded in 1811 and operated as the Wilmington and Kennett Turnpike Company for over 100 years, the Pike was functioned as a toll road from Chester County to WIlmington, DE. By 1918-1920, P.S. du Pont purchased the Company, rebuilt the roadbed and deeded the "Kennett Pike" back to Delaware and Pennsylvania; du Pont family members or business interests owned 48 percent of the frontage on Delaware's portion of the road, essentially halting growth from Wilmington outward. While post-World War II development flourished on other "spoke" roads out of Wilmiington, the Kennett Pike and the land surrounding it appeared much as it had at the turn of the 20th century.
Traveling north from the Pennsylvania/Delaware line, the Pike passes through Pennsbury Township for 1.1 miles and crosses into Kennett for a distance of 1.7 miles. At its northern end in Kennett Township, the Pike meets US Route 1 and the lands of Pierre duPont's famous Longwood Gardens. In terms of landmarks the Kennett portion runs from just south of the village of Mendenhall to the junction with US Route 1 at Hamorton village.
The entire Delaware section of the roadway (5 miles) has maintained its appearance similar to the status after the 1918-20 improvement project with two lanes of travel and wide shoulders (later additions) for walking and bicycles. Formal bike lanes have been established in and around Centerville, DE. This project will restore the Kennett Township section of the roadway to the 1920 project status, maintaining the current two travel lanes, but widening the shoulders, improving/restoring drainage systems, and restoring the landscaping within the ROW. The addition of bike lanes will provide a key link permitting cycling to/from the Wilmington area into Chester County and specifically to Longwood Gardens.
Project Milestones
| Genesis & Grant Applications | ||
| August 2005 | DVRPC/PennDOT Grant Awareness Meeting | |
| September 2005 | Urban prepares Grant Applications | |
| During 2006 | DCNR and PennDOT Grants Awarded | |
| Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway | ||
| May 2005 | PA Designated as State Byway | |
| September 2005 | DE Byway becomes National | |
| Consultant Selection Process | 2nd Quarter, 2007 | Project Leaders Recommend Urban, Commita, & Gilmore |
| May 2007 | Developed Project Planning Scope & Estimate | |
| July 2007 | Received Approval for Consultants and Scope from DCNR |
Project Funding
| Federal Grant FHWA (80%) | $763,313 |
| PA DCNR Grant (5%) | $42,200 |
| Local Funds-Kennett Twp-3 years (13%) | $120,000 |
| Local Funds-Additional Fund Raising (2%) | $22,900 |
| TOTAL | $925,553 |
Project Documents
| Kennett Pike Bikeway Planning Final Report | Prepared by Urban Engineers 10/19/2009 FINAL |
| Summary of Environmental Documents | Prepared by Urban Engineers 2/4/2009 |
| Steering Committee Meeting Minutes | Prepared by Urban Engineers 03/05/2008 |
| Mendenhall Breakout Group Notes | 03/05/2008 |
| Bikeway Design Breakout Group Notes | 03/05/2008 |
| Landscape/Aesthetics/Environmental Break Group Notes | Prepared by Thomas Comitta 03/07/2008 |
| Working Group Meeting Minutes | Prepared by Urban Engineers 01/25/2008 |
| Kickoff Meeting | 09/25/2007 |
| Project Kickoff | Prepared by Urban Engineers 09/25/2007 |
| Overview | Prepared by John Haedrich |
| Design Guidelines | Prepared by Thomas Comitta 09/18/2007 |
| Planning Design and Construction | Prepared by Urban Engineers 09/25/2007 |
| Next Steps | Prepared by John Haedrich |
| Project Scope Planning Phase | Prepared by Urban Engineers 05/10/2007 |
| Bikeway Map | 09/28/2005 |
| Technical Proposal - Final Design | 12/07/09 |
| Final Design - Kickoff Meeting | 01/06/10 Minutes |