DELAWARE — Delaware City Manager Paul Brake referred to the Point Improvement Project at William Street and Central Avenue as a “gateway” to the city during Monday’s State of the City event at The Strand Theatre.
Well, the new gate is almost open.
The new traffic patterns under Norfolk Southern’s railroad bridge will feature dual approach lanes and will be fully operational by August, Brake said.
“It’s a total cost of $44 million — funds came from state and federal funds,” Brake said. “And there was just a small portion of $6 million that was committed by the city.”
The Point Improvement Project has been a long time coming. Construction began in 2023, and Brake addressed it during last year’s State of the City event — eight months into his tenure as city manager.
The project was mentioned during former city manager Tom Homan’s address in 2024. At that time, the city was celebrating turning the first shovels of dirt the previous May.
“After years of planning and construction, it’s exciting to see how this transformational project, nearing the finish line, will benefit the community for years to come,” Brake said Monday.
According to the city, the goal of the Point Improvement Project is to “relieve congestion and increase safety along U.S. 36 (William Street) and Ohio 37 (Central Avenue) by increasing the number of vehicular lanes beneath the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge.”
“On average, 25,000 vehicles a day pass below the bridge, with traffic models projecting that number to increase to almost 40,000 vehicles a day by 2040,” the city states on its website.
Brake and Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle shared more updates around the city during the 30-minute presentation Monday evening:
Parking changes downtown
It is no secret parking can be a hassle when residents venture downtown.
“We never talk about parking, do we?” Riggle joked.
The mayor said the city has finished its third downtown parking study and now has the data needed to execute the next steps.
“We’re now moving from study to implementation,” Brake said.
Part of that implementation includes the addition of a parking supervisor position.
“New parking kiosks and updated systems will improve the user experience and create more predictability for businesses and visitors,” Brake added.
“These changes will help support a vibrant downtown area while improving accessibility.”
Longhorn Steakhouse joins Delaware’s restaurant fold
A “long-anticipated” Longhorn Steakhouse is on the city’s horizon, Brake said.
Crews will construct the 5,710-square-foot building on 2.36 acres at 32 Coughlin Lane, inside the Coughlin Crossing complex.
Neither Brake nor Riggle gave a date for when residents can expect the restaurant to open.
Snow and ice team receives national award
It’s March, and snow flurries are deciding to rear their ugly heads even now.
That means the city will call once again upon the newly-awarded snow and ice team. The city of Delaware’s winter weather division has been recognized for excellence in snow and ice control.
“Our snow and ice team does such a fantastic job. They are now [becoming] a national champion,” Riggle said.
“[The award] is being presented by the American Public Works Association, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Riggle said she will join the team in Cleveland this April when they accept the award.
Delaware Fire Department Station 305 update
Delaware has grown a lot since it built its first fire station, Station 301, in 1972.
Now, the Delaware Fire Department is getting ready to open its fifth station, Station 305, on the east side of the city this fall.
The new building will help the department get closer to its targeted six-minute response time for the area, with a full-fledged station on the property.
It will also serve as the new headquarters for administrative offices.
Additionally, Station 305 will boast an 108-seat auditorium that will host future city functions and training sessions.
Possible plans for the airport
Delaware Municipal Airport currently sits in the middle of the city’s industrial park, and Riggle said something could be happening on the tarmac in the future.
“We’re also engaged in broader, regional conversations, including discussions about the long-term sustainability of the airport,” she said. “No formal decisions have been made, but we continue to discuss the future plan of that airport.
“Regional collaboration will continue to be an important part of Delaware’s economic growth.”
Read more about the city’s Strategic Action Plan, released in 2025, that continues to guide future priorities:
