Delaware 9A Guide - Highway Guides for Delaware Interstates - U.S. Routes - State Routes

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The Guide to Delaware State Route 9A

Delaware 9A provides a loop of New Castle Avenue (Delaware 9) for the Port of Wilmington and Interstate 495 (Exit 2) in the Southbridge portion of Wilmington. The state route travels Terminal Avenue east of Delaware 9 near the Wilmington city line to the Exit 2 partial cloverleaf interchange of Interstate 495. From there Terminal Avenue intersects Christina Avenue at the entrance to the Port of Wilmington. Delaware 9A turns northwestward onto Christina Avenue for its return to Delaware 9 and U.S. 13 (Heald Street) near the Christiana River crossing into the downtown area. Christina Avenue was apart of Delaware 48 until at least 1951.

Delaware 9A Mileage Table

Southern Terminus Northern Terminus Names Mileage
Delaware 9 - south of Wilmington U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 - south Wilmington Terminal Avenue, Christiana Avenue 2.1 (estimate)

Delaware 9A 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

  • 5,464 - Delaware 9 to East Wilmington limits

Southern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 9A south
Delaware 9A travels Terminal Avenue east-west between Delaware 9 (New Castle Avenue) and Christina Avenue at the entrance to the Port of Wilmington. Along the two-lane roadway is the Exit 2 interchange of Interstate 495. Depicted here is the southern terminus at New Castle Avenue just south of the Wilmington city limits. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Perspective from Delaware 9 north
Delaware 9A leaves Delaware 9 via Terminal Avenue to the Exit 2 partial-cloverleaf interchange of Interstate 95 in south Wilmington. The short state route loops from there to the Port of Wilmington and northward to Christina Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Perspective from Delaware 9 south
New Castle Avenue southbound at Claymont Street in South Bridge Wilmington. A signing project undertaken in south Wilmington during Summer of 2004 results in better signing of the termini of Delaware 9A on Delaware 9 and U.S. 13. The old mast arm signal assembly pictured here was reaffixed with a junction Delaware 9A shield for the upcoming intersection with Terminal Avenue. Photo taken 08/31/04.
Interstate 495 trailblazer posted along Delaware 9 (New Castle Avenue) southbound at Terminal Avenue (Delaware 9A). Delaware 9A junctions with Interstate 495 Exit 2 1.5 blocks to the east. Photo taken 08/31/04.
Delaware 9A (Terminal Avenue) returns to Delaware 9 (New Castle Avenue) just south of the Wilmington city line. The state route provides access between Interstate 495 and Delaware 9 by way of the Exit 2 interchange at Eden Park. Photo taken 04/10/04.
Northern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 9A north
Northbound reassurance shield for Delaware 9A posted between the Port of Wilmington and the Interstate 495 Christina River bridge. The two-lane Christina Avenue features vacant land and industrial businesses on the stretch between the port and junction U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street). Photo taken 12/99.
Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) returns to U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street) in the Southbridge section of the city. The state route ends just south of the Heald Street bridge over the Christina River. To the south U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 split between New Castle Avenue (northbound) and Heald Street (southbound. An Interstate 495 trailblazer redirects Delaware 9A northbound drivers southward to the Terminal Avenue partial-cloverleaf interchange of the freeway (Exit 2). Photo taken 12/99.
Perspective from U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 north
Approaching the northern terminus of Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) on U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 northbound (Heald Street). Delaware 9A provides a loop from Delaware 9 via Christina Avenue and Terminal Avenue for the Port of Wilmington. The state highway sees a partial cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 495 along Terminal Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street) northbound at Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue). Christina Avenue was once a busier road leading Wilmington area motorists to a Ferry terminal along the Delaware River. Ferry service used to carry cars and trucks across the Delaware River to Penns Grove, New Jersey. When the Delaware Memorial Bridge opened to traffic in 1951 the ferry service ceased. Christina Avenue carried Delaware 48 eastward from Lancaster Avenue to the ferry until that time. The route received its number from the New Jersey 48 counterpart in Penns Grove. However with the ferry crossing no longer in place Delaware 48 saw truncation westward back to Market Street. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Perspective from U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 south
U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 intersect the northern terminus of Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) just south of the Christina River Bridge. A junction sign resides on the curve into South Bridge on Heald Street. Delaware 9A forms a short loop between Heald Street and New Castle Avenue (Delaware 9) south of the city line. Photo taken 04/10/04.
Delaware 9A southbound departs to the left onto Christina Avenue for the Port of Wilmington. Note the Delaware 9 reassurance shield without U.S. 13 and the photocop posted to the right. Christina Avenue once was a part of Delaware 48. The two-lane roadway used to connect the city of Wilmington with Penns Grove, New Jersey (and New Jersey 48) by way of a ferry crossing to the southeast. When the Delaware Memorial Bridge opened to traffic in 1951 the ferry was no longer needed and thus the service disbanded. Delaware 48 later was truncated and Christina Avenue became part of a new Delaware 9A. Photo taken 04/10/04.

Delaware 9A Highway Guide

Delaware 9A Northbound
Delaware 9A (Terminal Avenue) eastbound at junction Interstate 495 in the South Bridge section of Wilmington. Terminal Avenue begins one block to the west at Delaware 9 (New Castle Avenue) and provides a direct connection between New Castle Avenue, Interstate 95, and the Port of Wilmington. Photo taken 08/31/04.
Delaware 9A Southbound
Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) southbound as it departs its intersection with U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street). Pictured here is the first southbound reassurance shield ahead of the intersection with Claymont and Dock Streets. To the left is a staging area for new cars shipped to the Port of Wilmington. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Passing underneath the high level bridge of Interstate 495 on Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) southbound. Behind the camera is a Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing for the nearby Shellpot Swing Bridge across the Christina River. Out of service since 1994, the span is set to resume operations in September 2004. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Delaware 9A (Christina Avenue) angles southeast from U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street) to the main entrance of the Port of Wilmington. The state route turns westward from Christina Avenue onto Terminal Avenue just outside the Port entrance. From there Delaware 9A (Terminal Avenue) approaches the partial-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 495 (Exit 2). Photo taken 08/10/04.
Exit 2 of Interstate 495 provides the main access point to the Port of Wilmington via Delaware 9A (Terminal Avenue). Thus many trucks can be found entering and exiting the ramps to the Wilmington eastern bypass. Pictured here is the overhead for the northbound loop ramp onto Interstate 495 from Terminal Avenue west. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Southbound Delaware 9A (Terminal Avenue) at the Interstate 495 southbound on-ramp. Interstate 495 meets U.S. 13 (Dupont Highway) one mile to the south and junction Interstates 95 & 295 in 2.75 miles. Photo taken 08/10/04.

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Page Updated September 4, 2004
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