State and local officials celebrate completion of $123 million, 6-year Blue Ball project

State and local officials on Friday celebrated the completion of the six-year, $123 million Blue Ball Properties Project, which was a key ingredient in convincing AstraZeneca to locate its North American headquarters in North Wilmington.

Construction was completed earlier this year, according to state officials.

The Blue Ball project included road improvements to Rt. 202, Rt. 141 and the I-95 interchange, historic restoration, wetland restoration, improved storm water management, public parkland and greenways.

Partnering on the project were the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), elected officials, AstraZeneca, local residents, community organizations, business groups and the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO).

The Blue Ball project began under then-governor Thomas R. Carper in the late 1990s when DEDO led the effort to secure the North American headquarters of AstraZeneca in Delaware, McKinney-Cherry said. DNREC and DelDOT worked in tandem to acquire the land and develop a plan for it.

David Small, deputy secretary of DNREC, called the project “unparalleled in Delaware’s history, in terms of historic preservation, open space protection, economic development and transportation enhancement.”

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner praised “the new intersection you can get through without fearing for your life.”

Indeed, DelDOT has received a lot of positive feedback on the traffic roundabouts, which provide a good gateway to Alapocas Run State Park, said project manager Mark Tudor.

In addition, the historic Blue Ball Dairy Barn is open for special events, Small said at the Friday ceremony. Constructed in 1914 as part of the Alfred I. duPont estate, renovations to the barn created conference and gallery space, meeting rooms, a large banquet room and a courtyard for gatherings.

DEDO and the governor’s office crafted a series of grants and tax credits worth $40 million as incentive for AstraZeneca, McKinney-Cherry said.

“At the time of relocation, it was estimated that the overall benefit to Delaware could reach as high as $50 million per year by 2005,” she said. “Today, AstraZeneca contributes $637 million towards Delaware’s Gross Domestic Product.”

Kathy Monday, a vice president for AstraZeneca, said her company has created and maintained 4,500 professional and technical jobs and its workers contribute $9 million in personal income taxes.