Delaware road gets new name to bring more attention to downtown district

Driving through Newark looking for Elkton Road? Don’t worry about it.  A ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday officially changed the name to South Main Street.

The street name officially changed on January 1st. However, the decision to rename the street of Elkton Road, between West Main Street and West Park Place, took place at a city council meeting on June 25, 2012. It’s a new identity that some believe will add to the success of downtown since it will now be associated with the City’s national award-winning Main Street.

“Renaming Elkton Road to South Main Street reaffirms our belief that this will become the next phase of our downtown redevelopment,” says Newark Mayor Vance Funk. “Newark has become a very popular destination, which has been enhanced by DelDOT’s excellent redevelopment of South Main Street.”

While many came together today to celebrate the change, it also comes at the right time not only marking the beginning of 2013 but DelDOT’s multi-year project which is near completion. That project consists of widening and repaving Elkton Road which is now South Main Street, featuring everything such as beautiful landscape from medians to sidewalks and wide bike lanes.

“The Elkton Road project involved collaboration between DelDOT, elected officials, City of Newark, University of Delaware, business leaders, and residents to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities as part of the pavement reconstruction and safety improvements,” DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt. “This project has addressed the multi-modal transportation needs while creating a more welcoming environment that will stimulate downtown business and tourism.”

“There is a lot of excitement about the extension of Main Street within our business community,” says City Manager Carol Houck. “Like many people I have spoken with, I am looking forward to opportunities for additional beautification and investment along this gateway into our city.”