Residents urge preservation of Blackport Drive, warn of access and historical importance

Multiple speakers used the public-comment period to stress the importance of Blackport Drive to East Goshen neighborhoods and first responders.

Ben Sher, pastor at Mount United Church, said the road has been in place since the 1880s and urged strict weight enforcement to extend the road’s life. "I found out that road has been there since the 1880s," he said, adding that limiting heavy-truck use and enforcing weight restrictions would materially reduce deterioration.

Vicki Hoberstick of the East Coast Neighborhood Association said some neighborhoods rely on a single main road and that any change to Blackport would have outsized effects on residents’ daily lives and emergency access. Commenters noted recent nearby construction has increased truck traffic on the corridor and urged that reconstruction include measures to discourage future heavy through-traffic.

A resident and others called for broader revitalization planning to accompany road work so the investment supports long-term redevelopment rather than a short-term fix.