A state route since at least 1938, Delaware 8 links the capital city of Dover with Little Creek to the east and Marydel, Maryland to the west. In Marydel is the junction of Maryland 311 (Halltown Road) and Maryland 454 (Crown Stone Road). The north end of Maryland 311 resides 500 feet or so to the west of the Delaware state line. Maryland 454 continues Halltown Road eastward into the Diamond State as Delaware 8.

6.3 miles east of the state line is where Delaware 8 (Halltown Road) overtakes Hartly Road (Delaware 44). Delaware 44 constitutes a short route between Pearsons Corner (Delaware 8) and Everetts Corner (Delaware 300) in rural western Kent County. It is not uncommon to happen across an Amish horse and buggy on either Delaware 8 or 44 between Hartly and Paden Corner. Four miles east of Pearsons Corner is the Dover city line.

Delaware 8 provides the main east-west route through the capital city of Dover. Entering the city limits via Hartly Road, Delaware 8 follows Forest Avenue, Division Street, and the Kings Highway through downtown. At one time a Delaware 8 Alternate was planned, and actually signed on SR 1 Turnpike Exit 104 guide signs, for Scarborough Road and Saulsbury Road (Delaware 15) between Forest Avenue and the Dupont Highway (U.S. 13) at the Exit 104 trumpet interchange with Delaware 1. The alignment is now simply Delaware 15 and Scarborough Road.

Delaware 8 provides the only east-west state route through the city of Dover.

Division Street resumes on Delaware 8 east of the Kings Highway to junction U.S. 13 (Dupont Highway). Division Street becomes N. Little Creek Road at Willis Road. From there Delaware 8 travels a short distance to a 2002 opened half-diamond interchange (Exit 98) with the SR 1 Turnpike. The junction provides northbound access to Delaware 1 from Delaware 8 and southbound access from Delaware 1 to Delaware 8. Ramps at the interchange were built in 1993 for emergency and maintenance vehicles. However given the growth of the area and the traffic woes associated with NASCAR races at Dover Downs International Speedway, DelDOT decided to upgrade the ramps for public use as a new exit. Otherwise Delaware 8 traverses rural environs on the 2.5 mile drive to Little Creek (pop. 195) and junction Delaware 9.

Delaware 8 Mileage Table

Delaware 8 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

• 5,105 - Maryland line to Road 182
• 19,513 - Saulsbury Road to Division Street (Dover)
• 10,421 - Kings Highway to U.S. 13/Dupont Highway (Dover)
• 1,700 - South Little Creek limits to Delaware 9

Delaware 8 Terminus Collection

Western terminus
	A pavement change marks the Delaware and Maryland state line on Maryland 454 (Halltown Road) eastbound at Delaware 8. The transition resides within the two-state village of Marydel. Maryland 454 in conjunction with Maryland 302 (Barclay Road) provides the route between metropolitan Dover and the U.S. 301 corridor for points west. Photo taken 04/13/04.
	The first Delaware 8 eastbound reassurance shield resides one third of a mile east of the state line near the Beaver Dam Ditch. The capital city of Dover is a 12-mile drive to the east. Halltown Road otherwise passes through the settlements of Bethesda and Green Briar before reaching Pearsons Corner and junction Delaware 44 (Hartly Road). Photo taken 04/13/04.
	A short distance past the state line and pavement change is the Maryland welcome sign for Halltown Road. Maryland 454 takes over for Delaware 8 into Marydel, Maryland. Around the bend pictured here is the northern terminus of Maryland 311. The six-mile long highway connects Marydel with Goldsboro and the Maryland 313 corridor. Photo taken 04/13/04.
Eastern Terminus
	Delaware 8 (Little Creek Road) meets Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive & Main Street) in the hamlet of Little Creek (pop. 195). An interesting three-way Y-intersection composes the junction between the two state routes. Depicted here is the Delaware 9 southbound junction with Delaware 8. The eastbound-southbound and northbound-westbound movements have overall right-of-way here. Photo taken by Adam Froehlig (02/18/02).
	Delaware 8 & 9 shield assembly at the three-way Y-intersection posted on Delaware 9 (Main Street) northbound. Delaware 9 travels Bayside Drive northward from Delaware 1 to Little Creek and Leipsic (pop. 203) through wetlands and farm fields in eastern Kent County. The two-lane shoulderless road is generally regarded as one of the more scenic routes in the Diamond State. Photo taken 10/01.

Delaware 8 Highway Guide

Delaware 8 east
	Eastbound Delaware 8 (Halltown Road) at the eastern terminus of Delaware 44 (Hartly Road) at Pearsons Corner. Halltown Road ends here and Hartly Road joins Delaware 8 eastward on the four mile trek to the capital city of Dover (pop. 32,135). Photo taken 04/13/04.
	500 feet east of the Delaware 44 terminus is the signalized intersection with Pearsons Corner Road. Pearsons Corner Road loops west of Dover between Delaware 15 & 42 outside of Cheswold (pop. 313) and Hazlettville Road near Hazlettville itself. Photo taken 04/13/04.
Delaware 8 west
	Delaware 8 (Division Street) westbound after the intersection with U.S. 13 (DuPont Highway) in Dover. Division Street briefly carries four lanes ahead of the St. Jones River crossing northeast of downtown. Photo taken 08/05/07.
	Delaware 8 (Hartly Road) westbound at Halltown Road and the split with Hartly Road and Delaware 44. Delaware 44 curves northwest from Pearsons Corner to Davis Corner, Hartly (pop. 78) and Everetts Corner. Hartly Road carries Delaware 44 3.8 miles to junction Delaware 11 (Arthursville Road) at Hartly itself. Photo taken 04/13/04.
	Delaware 8 (Halltown Road) turns southwesterly from Pearsons Corner to Bethesda and Marydel before the transition into Maryland 454 at the state line. Marydel resides six miles to the west via Halltown Road. Photo taken 04/13/04.

Delaware 8 Offsite Links

• Delaware 8 @ OKRoads.com (Eric Stuve)

Page Updated October 30, 2007.