The beginning of Delaware 9 occurs by 1938 with the signing of the state route between U.S. 113 and U.S. 13 between Dover and Smyrna. The coastal route saw extension during the 1960s from Smyrna to the city of Wilmington. In 1968 the Reedy Point Bridge, a high-level cantilever span, opened to traffic between Port Penn and Delaware City over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Delaware 9 begins at Delaware 1 (former U.S. 113) along the Dover city line near Dover Air Force Base. The state route travels Bayside Drive northward from there to the settlement of Little Creek (pop. 195) and junction Delaware 8 (N Little Creek Road). Bayside Drive becomes Main Street through the corporate limits of Little Creek itself. Bayside Drive resumes north of N Little Creek Road six miles to the village of Leipsic and junction Delaware 42 (Fast Landing Road & Second Street). Delaware 9 becomes Denny Street within the community of 203.

Delaware 9 travels a rural route east of Dover Air Force Base and the capitol city.

Traveling Smyrna Landing Road northward out of Leipsic, Delaware 9 continues along a scenic coastal stretch amid farm fields and wetlands. 1.8 miles north of Delaware 42 (Second Street) is where Smyrna Landing Road splits from Delaware 9. The state highway continues northward along Hay Landing Road 3.2 miles to junction Delaware 6 (Woodland Beach Road). Smyrna Landing Road meanwhile veers northwestward to junction U.S. 13 (Dupont Highway) within the town of Smyrna (pop. 5,679). The 4.7 mile route of Smyrna Landing Road was the northernmost leg of Delaware 9 until the signed extension in the 1960s.

Delaware 6 travels eastward from Smyrna to Delaware 9 (Hay Point Landing Road) and Woodland Beach along the Delaware River. Delaware 9 meanwhile continues along Hay Point Landing Road northward from there to the Smyrna River and Kent/New Castle County line. There Delaware 9 becomes Fleming Landing Road. Several turns occur on Delaware 9 between the Smyrna River and Augustine Beach. At Cedar Swamp Road Delaware 9 turns westward on Taylors Bridge Road. Delaware 9 turns northward from Taylors Bridge road at Delaware 299 onto Thomas Landing Road. Delaware 299 begins there and travels to Odessa as Delaware 9 turns northeasterly again along Thomas Landing Road 0.8 miles to Thomas Corner Road and Silver Run Road.

Silver Run Road carries Delaware 9 northward through the Augustine Wildlife Area to Bayview Road and Bayview Beach. At Bayview Beach, Delaware 9 turns northward along the Delaware River via St. Augustine Road to Augustine Beach and Port Penn. Another series of turns occur within the village of Port Penn as the state route turns west from Congress Street onto Market Street and north from Market Street to Liberty Street. Port Penn Road stems from Market Street westward to Boyds Corner and the Exit 142 interchange of the SR 1 Turnpike (via Pole Bridge Road).

Between Port Penn and Delaware City, Delaware 9 straddles the Augustine Wildlife area via Delaware City Port Penn Road and the Reedy Point Bridge. The scenic stretch culminates with the crossing over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal high above Fort Dupont State Park and the waterway below. From that vantagepoint one can see the beginnings of the Appalachian Piedmont, the state of New Jersey, and the canal bridges at St. Georges.

Delaware 9 touches down via Fifth Street within the town of Delaware City (pop. 1,453). A slow 25 MPH speed limit is enforced through town between the bridge and the Dragon Creek. West of there speeds increase through to the Wrangle Hill Road intersection with Delaware 72, River Road, and Clarks Corner Road. Again Delaware 9 turns onto a different road as it departs Wrangle Hill Road west to River Road north. The area of the intersect is buffeted by the Texaco Refineries and the smells there are often quite repugnant.

Delaware 72 links Delaware City with U.S. 13 and Delaware 1 at Wrangle Hill 1.5 miles west of Delaware 9. Delaware 9 (River Road) meanwhile continues northward through marshy environs and the Texaco industrial site between Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) and the town of New Castle (pop. 4,862). In New Castle, Delaware 9 takes a convoluted routing via West Seventh Street, Washington Avenue, Delaware Street, Ferry Cut Off Street, and East Sixth Street. The alignment bypasses the historic downtown section of town via a multiplex with Delaware 273 between Basin Road (Delaware 141) and East Sixth Street. The state highway previously continued straight through town via Seventh Street, South Street, and Sixth Street. Relocation occurred around 1990.

The final 7.5 miles between New Castle and the northern terminus in Wilmington comprises a four-lane arterial. Delaware 9 follows Wilmington Road to the New Castle corporate limit at Buttonwood Avenue and then New Castle Avenue northward from there into the Southbridge section of Wilmington. A compact interchange exists between the state highway and Interstate 295 & U.S. 40 just west of the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

In Wilmington, Delaware 9 continues along New Castle Avenue into a one-way street couplet with U.S. 13 via Heald Street (southbound) and New Castle Avenue (northbound). The split lasts six blocks and carries the tandem through economically repressed residential areas of Southbridge Wilmington. At Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue), U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 turn westward to cross the Christina River via a four-lane bascule bridge. U.S. 13 leaves Delaware 9 just west of the bridge and AMTRAK over crossing along the one-way street couplet of Spruce Street (southbound) and Church Street (northbound). Delaware 9 continues westward along Fourth Street to downtown, Westside, Interstate 95, Hilltop, and Little Italy within the city of Wilmington. The terminus occurs at the one-way couplet of Delaware 2 (Union & Lincoln Streets).

Delaware 9 Mileage Table

Delaware 9 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

• 1,812 - U.S. 113 to Dover limits
• 2,003 - Delaware 8 to N. Little Creek limits
• 272 - Kent County line to Road 453
• 2,291 - South Delaware City limits to Clinton Street
• 6,401 - South New Castle limits to Washington Street
• 24,148 - Interstate 295 to Memorial Drive
• 15,814 - U.S. 13 Business/King Street to Delaware 2/Union Street

Delaware 9 Terminus Collection

Southern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 9 south
	Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) ends at Delaware 1 (Bay Road) at a crossroads with Kitts Hummok Road south of Dover Air Force Base. Kitts Hummok Road intersects Bayside Drive ahead of the Delaware 9 end at Delaware 1. The roadway provides for the movements of Delaware 9 south to Delaware 1 north for the capital city of Dover. Photo taken 04/13/04.

Bayside Drive carries Delaware 9 100 feet west to Delaware 1 (Bay Road) from Kitts Hummock Road. Although signed for Delaware 1 south, traffic may also turn right onto Delaware 1 north. U.S. 113 shields at the confluence of the three highways remained in place two months after the official truncation of the federal route southward from Dover to Milford. Photo taken 04/13/04.

Perspective from Delaware 9 north
	The northbound beginning of Delaware (Bayside Drive) is shrouded by fog from a springtime warm front. The first northbound reassurance shield is posted after the Kitts Hummok Road intersection. Bayside Drive otherwise skirts the fringes of Dover A.F.B. northward to junction Delaware 8 at Little Creek. Photo taken 04/13/04.
Perspective from Kitts Hummock Road
	Junction Delaware 9 shield posted along Kitts Hummock Road northbound. Kitts Hummock Road spurs southeast from Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) to the settlement of Kitts Hummock along Delaware Bay. Photo taken 08/05/07.

		Kitts Hummock Road northbound at Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive). U.S. 113 shields remained for a period after the February 2004 truncation along the two-lane roadway in addition to those found on Bayside Drive. Traffic is routed westward onto Bayside Drive for Delaware 1 (Bay Road) south to Milford and the Seashore points. Photos taken 04/13/04 & 08/05/07.
		U.S. 113 northbound trailblazer, and its replacement Delaware 1 trailblazer, posted on Kitts Hummock Road between Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) and Delaware 1 (Bay Road). The SR 1 Turnpike begins 1.5 miles ahead at the main gate to Dover A.F.B. The turnpike parallels Delaware 9 northward to Tybouts Corner in New Castle County. Photos taken 04/13/04 & 08/05/07.

	Kitts Hummock Road southbound provides the movement between Delaware 1 (Bay Road) south to Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) northbound. Delaware 1 otherwise curves southward toward Magnolia and Frederica. Kitts Hummock Road leaves here on an eastward journey to Kitts Hummock along the Delaware River. Photo taken 04/13/04.
Perspective from Delaware 1 south
	Delaware 1 (Bay Road) leaves the Dover A.F.B. area and intersects the southern terminus of Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) and Kitts Hummock Road. Delaware 9 is regarded as the coastal scenic route for the state of Delaware between Dover and Delaware City. The two lane roadway skirts through many small villages, wetlands, and wildlife refuges along the Delaware River. Photo taken 04/13/04.
Perspective from Delaware 1 north
	The northbound beginning of Delaware 9 (Bayside Drive) departs Delaware 1 (Bay Road) northbound at the south extend of Dover A.F.B. The state route provides the route for hazardous cargo bound for the military base. Photo taken 08/05/07.

Northern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 9 north
		Approaching Delaware 2 east (Lincoln Street) on Delaware 9 (Fourth Street) northbound. Several signs are posted for the Delaware 2 & 9 confluence. A beautification project results in the placement of new ornamental light fixtures, decorative mast arms, new signs, and new tree plantings. The project occurred in 2000 and was done to add to the appeal of the Little Italy neighborhood nearby. Delaware 2 east enters Little Italy on its final trek to Delaware 52 (Pennsylvania Avenue). Photo taken 03/20/04.
		A second junction shield for Delaware 2 is posted between Lincoln and Union Streets on Delaware 9 northbound. The assembly should feature a north placard as Union Street carries the westbound direction of the state route. Two blocks to the west on Union Street is the merge with Delaware 48 westbound (Second Street). Delaware 48 provides the main route through northwest Wilmington to Hockessin via Lancaster Avenue. Photo taken 03/20/04.

	The end sign for Delaware 9 resides just beyond the Union Street (Delaware 2 west) intersection. A second Delaware 48 trailblazer directs motorists three blocks west to Delaware 48 east and west (Lancaster Avenue). Fourth Street meanwhile continues northward to Greenhill and Ogle Avenues. Photo taken 03/20/04.
Perspective from Delaware 2 west
	Approaching Delaware 9 (Fourth Street) on Delaware 2 (Union Street) westbound. The upcoming intersection represents the northern terminus of Delaware 9. The route is the second longest state highway in the state, traveling from Wilmington southward to Dover A.F.B. Photo taken 04/27/04.
	Union Street traverses the Little Italy area of north Wilmington between Seventh and Fourth Streets. Delaware 9 travels south from here toward downtown and Southbridge before departing the city en route to New Castle and the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Fourth Street northbound continues to Greenhill Avenue and Ogle Avenue. Photo taken 04/27/04.

Delaware 9 Guides

• Delaware 9 Northbound
• Delaware 9 Southbound

Delaware 9 Offsite Links

• Delaware Roads - DE 9/9A (Steve Alpert)
• Delaware 9 @ OKRoads.com (Eric Stuve)

Page Updated October 25, 2007.