Delaware State Route System

File:2022-07-16 16 14 35 View east along Delaware State Route 8 (Halltown Road) at First State Street in Marydel, Kent County, Delaware.jpg

The Interstate Highways and U.S. Routes in Delaware are numbered according to a national numbering pattern. Interstate Highways that run north–south have odd numbers, increasing from west to east, while those that run east–west have even numbers, increasing from south to north.{{cite web |title = Interstate System |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.cfm |access-date = March 4, 2015 }} Major north–south Interstates have numbers ending in 5 while major east–west Interstates have numbers ending in 0.{{cite web |last = Weingroff |first = Richard |department = Ask the Rambler |title = Was I-76 Numbered to Honor Philadelphia for Independence Day, 1776? |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/i76.cfm |access-date = March 4, 2015 }} Three-digit Interstates begin with odd numbers if they are a spur and an even number if they are a bypass or beltway and repeat numbers in different states. As such, the major north–south Interstate along the East Coast, Interstate 95 (I-95), passes through northern New Castle County. I-495 bypasses the section of I-95 that runs through the city of Wilmington.{{Delaware road map|year=2017|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

U.S. Routes that run north–south have odd numbers, increasing from east to west, while those that run east–west have even numbers, increasing from north to south. Major north–south U.S. Routes have numbers ending in 1 while major east–west U.S. Routes have numbers ending in 0. Three-digit U.S. Routes serve as branches of their parent route.{{cite web |last = Weingroff |first = Richard |title = From Names to Numbers: The Origins of the U.S. Numbered Highway System |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/numbers.cfm |access-date = March 4, 2015 }} As such, U.S. Route 13 (US 13) runs north–south through the entire length of Delaware while US 40, a major U.S. Route running from Utah to New Jersey, passes east–west through northern New Castle County. US 113 serves as a branch of US 13 in the southern part of the state. US 9 is an exception to the numbering pattern as it runs east–west across Sussex County, though the route runs north–south in New Jersey and New York.

File:DE 62 WB past DE 4.jpeg

State routes in Delaware are signed with the MUTCD default circular route marker, which consists of black numbers in a white circle on a rectangular black background.{{cite web |title = Delaware Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |edition = 2011 |date = December 2012 |page = 2D-8-2D-11 |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/de_mutcd/pdfs/DEMUTCD_Part2_Signs.pdf |access-date = December 27, 2016 }} These routes are largely assigned in a pattern similar to the Interstate and U.S. routes. Odd-numbered routes generally run north–south and even-numbered routes generally run east–west. A grid pattern exists for several low-numbered east–west state routes that increases from north to south, starting with DE 2 in northern Delaware and continuing south to DE 26 in the southern part of the state. There is also a pattern for some low-numbered north–south routes beginning with DE 1 in the east and continuing to DE 11 in the west. Several routes in Delaware are numbered as continuations of Maryland and Pennsylvania state routes, without regard to the even/odd pattern. Examples include DE 52, which is a southern continuation of PA 52, and DE 273, which is an eastern continuation of MD 273. DE 48 was once connected to Route 48 in New Jersey by a ferry across the Delaware River. Most of the 3-digit state routes are or were continuations of routes from Maryland and Pennsylvania, with the exception of DE 141 and DE 202. The lowest numbered state route is DE 1, while the highest numbered route is DE 896.

Unlike some other states,{{cite journal |url=http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/1964_route_renumbering.pdf |title=Route Renumbering: New Green Markers Will Replace Old Shields |journal=California Highways and Public Works |date=March–April 1964 |volume=43 |issue=1–2 |pages=11–14 |issn=0008-1159 |access-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619023353/http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/1964_route_renumbering.pdf |archive-date=June 19, 2013 |url-status=live }} Delaware does not prohibit duplication between route numbers of different systems. There are two examples of duplication between U.S. and state routes within Delaware. US 9 exists in Sussex County while DE 9 is located in Kent and New Castle counties. US 202 passes through the Wilmington area in northern New Castle County, with DE 202 heading south from an interchange with I-95 and US 202 along Concord Avenue into the city of Wilmington. DE 202 is signed along a former alignment of US 202.{{Delaware road map|year=1969|access-date=November 24, 2015}}

File:Road 195 and Road 202 junction Wyoming DE.jpg

Every road that is maintained by DelDOT, including Interstate, U.S., and state routes, is assigned a maintenance road number (also known as a reference number).{{Delaware road map|year=2012}}{{cite web |title = New Castle County Road Lookup Table |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2016/NewCastle_Road_Lookup_Table.pdf |access-date = March 5, 2015 }}{{cite web |title = Kent County Road Lookup Table |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2016/KentCounty_Road_Lookup_Table.pdf |access-date = December 29, 2017 }}{{cite web |title = Sussex County Road Lookup Table |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2016/SussexCounty_Road_Lookup_Table.pdf |access-date = December 29, 2017 }} The maintenance road numbers are only unique in a specific county and some roads can be designated with multiple road numbers. For example, Bryants Corner Road in Kent County is designated as Road 205, Road 103, and Road 219. Suffixed maintenance road numbers exist near their parent roads, often for a short alignment. For example, Woodland Ferry Road in Sussex County is designated Road 78, while Old Sailor Road, a short road branching off from it near Laurel, is designated as Road 78A. The maintenance road numbers are signed with little white markers at intersections showing the two roads that intersect each other and on auxiliary plates below warning signs approaching intersections.{{cite journal |title = Delaware State Highway Department Annual Report |edition = 1958 |page = 39 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = 1958 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1958/1958_planning.pdf |access-date = March 5, 2015 }}{{cite journal |title = Annual Report |edition = 1966 |page = 11 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = 1966 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1966/directors_rpt.pdf |access-date = March 5, 2015 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213616/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1966/directors_rpt.pdf |url-status = dead }}

Interstate, U.S., and state routes have maintenance road numbers that often do not match their signed route numbers.{{cite web |author= Staff |title= Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Sussex County|publisher= Delaware Department of Transportation |year= 2018 |url=https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2018/2018SussexCounty.pdf?cache=1585499653885 |format= PDF |access-date= March 29, 2020}}{{cite web |author= Staff |title= Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Kent County|publisher= Delaware Department of Transportation |year= 2018 |url=https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2018/2018KentCounty.pdf?cache=1585499553216|format= PDF |access-date= March 29, 2020}}{{cite web |author= Staff |title= Traffic Count and Mileage Report: New Castle County|publisher= Delaware Department of Transportation |year= 2018 |url= https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2018/2018NewCastleCounty.pdf?cache=1585499421360 |format= PDF |access-date= March 29, 2020}} For instance, DE 261 in New Castle County is designated as Road 203. In Sussex County, several state routes largely have matching maintenance road numbers; for example, the entire length of DE 24 is designated Road 24. Some routes in Sussex County have maintenance road numbers that reflect former route designations; an example is the section of US 9 between Laurel and Georgetown which is designated Road 28, reflecting the former DE 28 designation along this stretch of road.{{Delaware road map|year=1973|access-date=November 24, 2015}}

{{see also|List of numbered routes in Delaware}}

The Delaware State Route System includes Delaware's portion of the Interstate Highway System and U.S. Highway System along with state routes.{{cite web |author= Staff |title= Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Interstate, Delaware, and US Routes |publisher= Delaware Department of Transportation |year= 2018 |url= https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2018/2018Interstate_USRoutes_DelawareRoutes.pdf?cache=1585496964656 |format= PDF |access-date= March 29, 2020}} The system also includes special routes of the U.S. and state routes, such as alternate, business, and truck routes. These routes consist of a banner denoting the type of special route above the route marker. Alternate routes provide a second alignment of a route between two points. DE 10 Alternate provides an alternate routing to DE 10 between Willow Grove and Rising Sun by passing through Woodside while DE 10 passes through Camden. Business routes pass through the business area of a city while the main route bypasses it. DE 1 Business passes through the central portion of Milford while DE 1 bypasses the city to the east. Truck routes provide an alternate route for trucks around a certain portion of a route. DE 14 Truck provides a route for truck traffic that bypasses the section of DE 14 that passes through Harrington.{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicNewsDisplay&id=3128&month=8&year=2008 |title = City of Harrington Truck Route By-Pass Opens Today |date = August 20, 2008 |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = February 1, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090117070746/http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicNewsDisplay&id=3128&month=8&year=2008 |archive-date = January 17, 2009 }} Suffixed routes also exist for short alignments that branch off their parent routes, in which a letter suffix is added after the route number. DE 1 has three suffixed routes in the Rehoboth Beach area while DE 9A provides access to the Port of Wilmington from DE 9. In addition to these systems are other state roads designated with a maintenance road number.

File:DE 9 NB past Persimmon Tree Lane.jpeg

DelDOT maintains a total of {{convert|5386.14|mi|km}} of state roads within Delaware, which comprises 89 percent of all roadway mileage in the state.{{cite web |title = Annual Report & Transportation Facts |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |date = 2013 |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Publications/reports/fact_book/pdfs/2013/2013_deldot_fact_book.pdf |access-date = March 6, 2015 }} Some exceptions to DelDOT maintenance include the bridges over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, which are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,{{cite web |title = Chesapeake & Delaware Canal |publisher = U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |url = https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Chesapeake-Delaware-Canal/ |access-date = March 6, 2015 }} and the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is maintained by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA).{{cite web|title=Delaware Memorial Bridge |publisher=Delaware River and Bay Authority |url=http://www.drba.net/delawarememorialbridge.aspx |access-date=March 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214083555/http://www.drba.net/DelawareMemorialBridge.aspx |archive-date=December 14, 2011 }} A total of {{convert|338.19|mi|km}} of Delaware's roadways are part of the National Highway System, a system of highways important to the United States's economy, defense, and mobility. This system includes all the Interstate Highways in Delaware, other principal arterials which connect to intermodal transportation facilities, and the Strategic Highway Network which provides connections to major military facilities in the United States.{{cite web |title = What is the National Highway System? |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = http://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/hpms/pages/nat_hwy_sys.shtml |access-date = March 7, 2015 }} The longest route overall in Delaware is US 13 at {{convert|103.33|mi|km}}, with DE 1 being the longest state route at {{convert|103.02|mi|km}}. At a length of {{convert|23.43|mi|km}}, I-95 is the longest of Delaware's three Interstate Highways. The shortest route is DE 491 at {{convert|0.36|mi|km}}.

The roads maintained by DelDOT include Interstate Highways, other freeways, arterial roads, collector roads, and local roads serving both urban and rural areas. Delaware has a total of {{convert|40.61|mi|km}} of freeway considered part of the Interstate Highway System. Non-Interstate freeways in the state include the portion of DE 1 between Dover Air Force Base and Christiana, the section of DE 141 between south of Newport and Prices Corner, and the Puncheon Run Connector that links US 13 and DE 1 in Dover. Three toll roads exist in the state. A mainline toll plaza is located along the Delaware Turnpike portion of I-95 near the Maryland border in Newark.{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicTollRateI95 |title = I-95 Newark Toll Plaza Rates |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = November 30, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141212023958/http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicTollRateI95 |archive-date = December 12, 2014 }} Tolls are also collected along the DE 1 freeway, with mainline toll plazas at Dover and Biddles Corner and ramp tolls at North Dover, South Smyrna, and Boyds Corner.{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicTollRateGrid |title = State Route 1 Toll Rate Grid |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = March 31, 2012 }} Tolls along I-95 and DE 1 may be paid with cash or an electronic toll collection system known as E-ZPass. The US 301 toll road runs from the Maryland border near Middletown northeast to DE 1 in St. Georges. US 301 uses all-electronic tolling, where tolls are paid with E-ZPass or toll-by-plate, which uses automatic license plate recognition to take a photo of the vehicle's license plate and mail a bill to the vehicle owner. The road has a mainline toll gantry north of the Maryland border and ramp toll gantries on the southbound exits and northbound entrances at the DE 299, DE 71, and Jamison Corner Road interchanges.{{cite web |url=https://www.ezpassde.com/pages/FAQs.shtml |title=Frequently Asked Questions |website=Delaware E-ZPass |publisher=Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date=October 13, 2018}} The DRBA also collects tolls for the Delaware Memorial Bridge for motorists entering Delaware from New Jersey using cash or E-ZPass.{{cite web |title = Current Tolls |publisher = Delaware River and Bay Authority |url = http://www.drba.net/DelawareMemorialBridge/CurrentTolls.aspx |access-date = March 6, 2015 |archive-date = November 30, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202011/http://www.drba.net/DelawareMemorialBridge/CurrentTolls.aspx |url-status = dead }} Highways and other transportation projects in Delaware are funded through both the Transportation Trust Fund and the Federal Highway Trust Fund. The Transportation Trust Fund receives revenue from tolls along I-95 and DE 1, motor fuel taxes of 23 cents per gallon on gasoline and 22 cents per gallon on special fuels, motor vehicle document and registration fees, and DMV fees. In 2013, revenues from the Transportation Trust Fund were $445.4 million while revenue from the Federal Highway Trust Fund totaled $214.5 million.

File:Delaware Byways.png

The Delaware Byways system designates state roads that have scenic, historic, natural, cultural, recreational, or archaeological qualities. The system was created in 2000 and was originally known as the Delaware Scenic and Historic Highways Program.{{cite web |title = About Delaware Byways |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Programs/byways/index.shtml?dc=about |access-date = December 29, 2017 }} Six byways make up the system, including one National Scenic Byway.{{cite web |title = Delaware Byways |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |url = https://www.deldot.gov/Programs/byways/index.shtml |access-date = December 29, 2017 }}

The Native Americans who originally inhabited Delaware used waterways to travel, with land trails connecting different bodies of water.{{cite web |last1 = Amott |first1 = David |last2 = Gollannek |first2 = Eric |last3 = Ames |first3 = David |title = A History of Delaware Roads and A Guide to Researching Them |publisher = University of Delaware Center for Historic Architecture and Design |date = May 2006 |url = http://udspace.udel.edu/bitstream/handle/19716/2673/History%20of%20Delaware%20roads%20and%20guide%20for%20research.pdf?sequence=1 |access-date = June 2, 2015 }} Between the arrival of the Swedish colonists to Delaware and the 20th century, roads in Delaware were maintained by individual counties. The early roads that existed following Swedish settlement were short and discontinuous and followed Native American trails and animal paths. During colonial times, most roads in the state remained unimproved. With the arrival of English settlers to Delaware, the King of England called for the construction of "King's Highways" to provide for right-of-way and communication between people in the colony. These roads were simply a narrow clearing through brushes that was not paved. Several roads bearing the King's Highway name connected Philadelphia to Dover and points south. Most of the colonial roads im Delaware ran east–west, connecting coastal ports to inland areas. In the 18th century, the King's Highway ran between Lewes and Wilmington via Dover. By the later part of that century, a post road ran from Horn Town, Virginia north across the Delmarva Peninsula towards Philadelphia. In Delaware, this road passed through Selbyville, Georgetown, Milford, Dover, and Wilmington.{{harvp|John Milner Associates|2005|p=4}}. During the course of the 18th century, the road network in Delaware became more developed and provided links to waterways, which were still the primary mode of transportation at the time.

In the 19th century, private turnpike companies constructed and improved a few of the more important roadways in the state. Turnpikes were chartered by the state and privately financed, with tolls collected at toll houses every few miles along the road. The first turnpike in Delaware was the Newport Gap Pike, which was built in 1808 and completed to Wilmington in 1811. Many other turnpikes were constructed in northern New Castle County radiating from Wilmington and connected the industrial city to agricultural areas. The turnpikes were built as straight roads in order to reduce costs. Many of these roads were constructed with a macadam surface. During the course of the 19th century, new methods of transportation such as canals and railroads came about and there was less investment on roads. The revenues of the turnpike companies fell and roads became more of a local concern.

File:US 13 NB past Marl Pit Road.jpeg

At the turn of the 20th century, the automobile was introduced and a push came for better roads to be constructed. In 1903, the state attempted to create a state highway system by passing a state aid law where both the state and county would finance improvements to roads. However, this law was repealed in 1905 due to public outcry.{{cite journal |title = Delaware State Highway Department Annual Report |edition = 1958 |pages = 4–13 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = 1958 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1958/1958_history.pdf |access-date = November 13, 2014 |archive-date = November 27, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141127101122/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1958/1958_history.pdf |url-status = dead }} In 1908, Thomas Coleman DuPont proposed a modern road that was to run the length of the state from Selbyville north to Wilmington as part of a philanthropic measure. This roadway was planned to improve travel and bring economic development to Kent and Sussex counties. The DuPont Highway was to be modeled after the great boulevards of Europe and was to have a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=on}} wide right-of-way consisting of a {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} wide roadway for automobiles flanked by dual trolley lines, {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} wide roadways for heavy vehicles, {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} wide unpaved roadways for horses, and sidewalks. Utilities were to be buried underground below the horse roadways. The highway was also to include agricultural experimental stations and monuments for future surveying. Trolley revenues would help pay for the construction of the roadway. After portions of the DuPont Highway were built, these portions were planned to be turned over to the state at no charge.{{harvp|John Milner Associates|2005|pp=6, 8}}. The Coleman DuPont Road, Inc. was established in 1911 and construction of the DuPont Highway began. The DuPont Highway would end up being built as a two-lane concrete road on a {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}} alignment with a {{convert|32|ft|m|adj=on}} wide roadway.{{harvp|John Milner Associates|2005|p=14}}.

The Delaware State Highway Department (DSHD) was created on April 2, 1917 to construct and maintain a system of state highways across Delaware. As a result, the state took over construction of the DuPont Highway. The DuPont Highway was completed in 1923 when the final section near Odessa was finished.{{harvp|John Milner Associates|2005|p=16}}. The DuPont Highway was a boon to southern Delaware, which had formerly been economically isolated from the large cities of the northeast. In conjunction with the rise of the automobile, the highway spurred the growth of the Delaware Beaches by greatly improving access to the coast for tourists from northern Delaware and adjacent portions of the Northeast megalopolis. Southern Delaware also developed into a major truck farming region due to having much greater access to urban markets. No longer fully reliant on the railroads to transport their goods, farmers in Sussex and Kent counties could market their fruits, vegetables, and broiler chickens directly to consumers in the north.{{harvp|John Milner Associates|2005|p=28}}. Also during this time, the State Aid Road Law ushered in a period of highway improvement in which the county would offer road bonds and the state would match. The DSHD would then improve the highway. Most of the highways improved by the DSHD were built as concrete roads, with sharp curves eliminated. The state also took over the last of the private turnpikes and converted them to free roads. In 1926, the state began eliminating several railroad grade crossings and in 1927 the first all-weather secondary roads were constructed, consisting of one concrete lane and one dirt lane in an effort to reduce costs.

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The first numbered routes in Delaware were announced in 1925 with the creation of the U.S. Highway System, in which US 13, US 40, and US 113 were planned to run through the state.{{cite journal |title = Annual Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1925 |page = 17 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = December 31, 1925 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1925/annual_1925.pdf |access-date = November 18, 2010 |journal = |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213414/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1925/annual_1925.pdf |url-status = dead }} These three U.S. Highways, along with US 122, were designated through Delaware on November 11, 1926.{{cite map |author1= Bureau of Public Roads |author2= American Association of State Highway Officials |date= November 11, 1926 |title= United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials |url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_System_of_Highways_Adopted_for_Uniform_Marking_by_the_American_Association_of_State_Highway_Officials.jpg |scale= 1:7,000,000 |location= Washington, DC |publisher= United States Geological Survey |oclc= 32889555 |access-date= November 7, 2013 |via= Wikimedia Commons |name-list-style= amp}}{{Delaware road map|year=1931|access-date=November 24, 2015}} In 1930 and again in 1932, the DSHD recommended giving numbers to state roads to supplement the existing U.S. Highway System.{{cite journal |title = Annual Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1930 |page = 19 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = December 31, 1930 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1930/annual_1930_chief.pdf |access-date = November 18, 2010 |journal = |archive-date = July 21, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721035421/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1930/annual_1930_chief.pdf |url-status = dead }}{{cite journal |title = Annual Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1932 |page = 31 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = December 31, 1932 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1932/annual_1932_chief.pdf |access-date = November 18, 2010 |journal = |archive-date = January 7, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100107105622/http://deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1932/annual_1932_chief.pdf |url-status = dead }} By 1936, Delaware began assigning numbers to state routes. The original state route marker was a square with "DEL" on top and the route number on bottom in a block font.{{Delaware road map|year=1936|access-date=November 24, 2015}} By 1955, the shield was modified to a square with "DELAWARE" on top and the route number on bottom in FHWA Series font.{{cite journal |title = Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1955 |page = 21 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = July 1, 1955 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1955/annual_1955_chief.pdf |access-date = October 31, 2014 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213530/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1955/annual_1955_chief.pdf |url-status = dead }} In 1964, the route marker became a cutout circle with "DEL" on top and the route number on bottom.{{cite journal |title = Annual Report |edition = 1964 |page = 22 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = 1964 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1964/1964_traffic.pdf |access-date = June 2, 2015 }} The current route marker was introduced in 1971.{{cite web |title = Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |year = 1971 |page = 90 |url = http://www.trafficsign.us/oldmutcd/1971/2d-guidesignsconv.pdf |access-date = June 2, 2015 }}

In 1934, the entire length of US 13 between Dover and Wilmington was widened into a divided highway, which at the time was the best superhighway and the longest stretch of divided highway in the world. During the course of the 1930s, several other state roads were constructed while others were widened into divided highways. In 1935, the DSHD took over maintenance of all remaining county roads, tripling the mileage of the state highway system, and took over several city streets in Wilmington in 1936. Progress on improving the state highway system slowed during World War II; the only major project completed during that time was the construction of the high-level St. Georges Bridge to replace a lift bridge destroyed by a ship in 1939. Following the war, several highway improvement projects took place including widening more roads to divided highways. On August 16, 1951, the Delaware Memorial Bridge and its approach road opened to traffic, providing a fixed road link for US 40 across the Delaware River to New Jersey and replacing ferry service that previously existed.{{cite journal |title = Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1951 |page = 69 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = February 15, 1952 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1951/annual_1951_xing.pdf |access-date = November 10, 2014 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213518/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1951/annual_1951_xing.pdf |url-status = dead }}{{Delaware road map|year=1950|access-date=November 24, 2015}}{{Delaware road map|year=1952|access-date=November 24, 2015}} Following the completion of the bridge, traffic along US 13 and US 40 increased, with plans made for a new freeway to handle the increased traffic.{{cite journal |title = Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1954 |page = 84 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = July 1, 1954 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1954/annual_1954_chief.pdf |access-date = November 9, 2014 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213525/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1954/annual_1954_chief.pdf |url-status = dead }} In 1957, US 13 was widened into a divided highway between Greenwood and Harrington, providing a divided highway running the north–south length of the state.

File:I-95 NB from DE 273 overpass.jpeg

In 1956, the Interstate Highway System was created, with under {{convert|40|mi|km}} of Interstate Highway planned in New Castle County.{{cite journal |title = Report of the State Highway Department |edition = 1956 |page = 8 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = July 1, 1956 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1956/annual_1956_chief.pdf |access-date = November 18, 2010 |journal = |archive-date = January 7, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100107104429/http://deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1956/annual_1956_chief.pdf |url-status = dead }} The first Interstate came in 1959 when the Delaware Memorial Bridge approach was upgraded to Interstate Highway standards and became part of I-295.{{cite journal |title = Delaware State Highway Department Annual Report |edition = 1959 |page = 22 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = March 1, 1960 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1959/1959_xrds.pdf |access-date = November 10, 2014 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213556/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1959/1959_xrds.pdf |url-status = dead }}{{Delaware road map|year=1959|access-date=November 24, 2015}} The portion of I-95 between the Maryland border near Newark and Newport and I-295 between Newport and the approach to the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Farnhurst was to be built as a free Interstate Highway using federal funds, but was built as the tolled Delaware Turnpike instead in order to speed up construction.{{cite news |last = Ingraham |first = Joseph C. |title = Another North-South Highway Link |work = The New York Times |date = November 10, 1963 }} On November 15, 1963, the turnpike opened to traffic.{{cite news |title = Mr. First nets 517th on turnpike |work = The Morning News |location = Wilmington, DE |date = November 15, 1963 |page = 3 }} The Delaware Turnpike allowed motorists to travel from Washington, D.C. to Boston without having to stop at a traffic light.{{cite news |last = Burke |first = Melissa Nann |title = I-95 in Delaware linked East Coast, divided city of Wilmington |work = The News Journal |location = Wilmington, DE |date = November 14, 2013 }} In 1968, I-95 was completed between the Delaware Turnpike and the Pennsylvania border.{{cite journal |title = Annual Report |edition = 1969 |page = 8 |publisher = Delaware State Highway Department |location = Dover, Delaware |date = June 30, 1969 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1969/1969_free_thru_row.pdf |access-date = November 11, 2014 |archive-date = February 10, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170210121507/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1969/1969_free_thru_row.pdf |url-status = dead }} The I-495 bypass to the east of Wilmington fully opened in 1977.{{cite journal |title = Annual Report |edition = 1977 |page = 11 |publisher = Delaware Department of Highways and Transportation |location = Dover, Delaware |date = 1977 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1977/1977_rpt.pdf |access-date = December 4, 2014 |archive-date = June 18, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090618141147/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1977/1977_rpt.pdf |url-status = dead }}

File:DE 1 NB from DE 299 overpass.jpeg

In the 1980s, plans were made for a limited-access Relief Route of US 13 between Dover and the Wilmington area that would alleviate it of traffic heading to the Delaware Beaches in the summer.{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.org/static/projects/sr1/timeline.html |title = State Route 1 Project Timeline |work = Internet Archives WayBack Machine |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = October 16, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030624024721/http://www.deldot.org/static/projects/sr1/timeline.html |archive-date = June 24, 2003 }}{{cite news |last = Carper |first = Alison |title = New Route To Be Built For Del. Beach Traffic |work = The Philadelphia Inquirer |date = February 12, 1986 |url = http://articles.philly.com/1986-02-12/news/26087993_1_fourth-bridge-new-route-transportation-officials |archive-url = https://archive.today/20141020030131/http://articles.philly.com/1986-02-12/news/26087993_1_fourth-bridge-new-route-transportation-officials |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 20, 2014 |access-date = October 19, 2014 }} This Relief Route would become designated as part of DE 1, a route that ran along the Atlantic Ocean in Sussex County and north to Milford. The DE 1 toll road between Dover Air Force Base and Christiana opened in stages between 1991 and 2003. The total cost to build the DE 1 toll road was $900 million and it was the largest public works project in Delaware history.{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.org/static/projects/sr1/index.html |title = State Route 1 Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway |work = Internet Archives WayBack Machine |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = October 17, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030622043313/http://www.deldot.org/static/projects/sr1/index.html |archive-date=June 22, 2003 }}

Since the 1950s, a freeway has been planned along the US 301 corridor between I-95 and the Maryland border southwest of Middletown in order to provide a connection from the Delaware Memorial Bridge towards the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Washington, D.C. area.{{cite news |first = Jeff |last = Montgomery |date = April 10, 2011 |title = Delaware roads: Midstate highway faces more obstacles |work = The News Journal |location = Wilmington, DE |oclc = 38962480 }} The most recent proposal called for US 301 to be built as a limited-access toll road from the Maryland border southwest of Middletown northeast to DE 1 in St. Georges. Construction began in 2016 and the highway opened to traffic in 2019.{{cite news |last = Montgomery |first = Jeff |title = DelDOT hoping for U.S. 301 green light in 2015 |work = The News Journal |location = Wilmington, DE |date = December 29, 2014 |url = http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/traffic/2014/12/28/deldot-toll-road/20961125/ |access-date = January 9, 2015 }}{{cite press release |title = Start of Construction for U.S. Route 301 Mainline Celebrated by Federal, State and Local Officials |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |date = February 5, 2016 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/home/newsroom/release.shtml?id=5898 |access-date = February 10, 2016 }}{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Jerry|title=U.S. 301 Mainline toll road opens Thursday to cheers and jeers|work=The News Journal|location=Wilmington, DE|date=January 10, 2019|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2019/01/10/u-s-301-mainline-opens-thursday-cheers-and-jeers/2524454002/|access-date=January 10, 2019}}

DelDOT began a program to pave the last of the state-maintained dirt roads within Delaware in the mid 1990s, which at the time totaled {{convert|100|mi|km}}. The last dirt road in the state to be paved was Spicer Road (Road 240) near Ellendale in Sussex County in 2002.{{cite web |title = Event Held To Commemorate The Paving Of The Last Dirt Road In Sussex County |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |date = September 23, 2002 |url = http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicNewsDisplay&id=1214 |access-date = March 6, 2015 }} Since 2000, DelDOT has eliminated several concurrencies in the state in order to reduce motorist confusion. Among the changes made included truncating US 113 from Dover to Milford to eliminate an overlap with DE 1,{{AASHTO minutes |year=2003A |access-date=April 15, 2010}}{{Delaware road map|year=2006|access-date=November 24, 2015}} removing DE 20 from heading into Fenwick Island along DE 54,{{cite web |url = http://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicNotice&id=466 |title = Public Workshop: SR 54/SR 20 Route Numbering Study |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |access-date = April 15, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190104175549/https://www.deldot.gov/public.ejs?command=PublicNotice&id=466 |archive-date = January 4, 2019 |url-status = dead }} shortening the length of DE 2 through Newark to avoid several concurrencies,{{cite web |last = Shannon |first = Josh |title = A route to less clutter: DelDOT to consolidate Newark route numbers |url = http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_081d2586-e14b-11e2-94de-001a4bcf887a.html |work = Newark Post |date = July 1, 2013 |access-date = August 15, 2013 }} and removing DE 41 from a concurrency with DE 2 in Prices Corner.{{cite web |title=Proposed Route Designation Changes – DE Route 41 and DE Route 2 |publisher=Delaware Department of Transportation |url=https://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/CompletedProjects/de2_41/index.shtml|access-date=December 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222133845/https://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/CompletedProjects/de2_41/index.shtml|archive-date=December 22, 2017}}

• {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1 = John Milner Associates |others = In association with Whitman Requardt and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl |title = Historic Context for the DuPont Highway U.S. Route 113: Kent and Sussex County, Delaware |url = http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/us113_dual/pdf/dert113context_final.pdf |access-date = January 29, 2014 |date = July 2005 |publisher = Delaware Department of Transportation |location = Dover, DE }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|State highways in Delaware}}

• [http://www.aaroads.com/delaware/ Delaware Highways @ AARoads]
• [http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/de/ Delaware Roads]

{{US state highways|hide=yes}}

{{Delaware}}