Delaware 72 arcs between Delaware City and the Pike Creek Valley by way of Newark. Delaware 72 follows Wrangle Hill Road westward from Delaware (River Road & Wrangle Hill Road) outside of Delaware City to Wrangle Hill itself (junction U.S. 13 & Delaware 7). A short overlap between Delaware 72 & U.S. 13 exists to facilitate the transition of the federal highway from the Dupont Highway onto the 1995-opened Delaware 1 freeway at Exit 152. West of there Delaware 72 curves northwesterly toward Delaware 71 (Red Lion Road), U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway), and Old Baltimore Pike en route to the city of Newark.
In Newark Delaware 72 follows South Chapel Street and Library Avenue between Delaware 2 & 4 (Chestnut Hill Road) and Delaware 273 (Newark Christiana Road). Around 1990 or so Delaware 2 saw relocation from Main Street & Delaware Avenue through Newark to Delaware 4 and Delaware 72 to bypass the city. Delaware 2 joins Delaware 72 at South Chapel Street and the two continue together onto the Kirkwood Highway at Delaware 2 Business & 273.
Delaware 72 originally followed South Chapel Street into the central business district of Newark to Delaware Avenue, Main Street, and Cleveland Avenue, and Paper Mill Road from Cleveland Avenue northward to Possum Park Road. In 1972 a project began to bypass the accident plagued Amtrak Northeastern Corridor rail crossing on South Chapel Street near Park Place. A new alignment was sought to eliminate the at-grade crossing along the state route. Library Avenue opened to the east as the new Delaware 72 between South Chapel Street and Delaware Avenue (Delaware 273 east). To improve access between the old Delaware 72 and new route, Wyoming Road was constructed between South Chapel Street and Library Avenue.
Delaware 72 continued from Library Avenue northward onto Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway) 1.2 miles between Delaware 273 (Newark Christiana Road) and Possum Park Road. From there Delaware 72 turns onto Possum Park Road for a 1.9 mile drive to Paper Mill Road (old Delaware 72) and Thompson Station Road. Paper Mill Road carried Delaware 72 between 1944 and 1972 south of Possum Park Road. The road continues to carry Delaware 72 between Possum Park Road and Polly Drummond Hill Road through portions of White Clay Creek State Park. Paper Mill Road becomes Curtis Paper Mill Road on the final 1.5 miles of Delaware 72 through to junction Delaware (Limestone Road).
Delaware 72 originally constituted just 9.5 miles between Delaware 7 and the Pike Creek Valley to downtown Newark at Delaware Avenue & Main Streets (Delaware 2 Business & 273). Between 1965 and 1968 the state route saw extension southward out of Newark onto Sunset Lake and Wrangle Hill Roads to its present terminus at Delaware 9. Otherwise Delaware 72 has been around since at least 1944.
| Southern Terminus
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A end sign resides for the south end of Delaware 72 at the junction with Delaware (River Road) and Clarks Corner Road. Wrangle Hill Road becomes Delaware 9 southbound en route to Delaware City. The Texaco refineries line both River Road (Delaware 9 north) and Wrangle Hill Road next to the Delaware 72 south end. Clarks Corner Road turns southward from here to North St. Georges. Photo taken 12/15/99.
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Delaware 9 turns westward along Wrangle Hill Road from Delaware City to junction Delaware 72. The southern terminus of the state route coincides with the intersection of Wrangle Hill, River, and Clarks Corner Road near the Texaco Refinery complex. Delaware 9 turns northward via River Road from here en route to New Castle. Photo taken 04/04/04. |
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Delaware 72 northbound continues Wrangle Hill Road west to junction U.S. 13 (Dupont Highway) and Delaware 1 (Exit 152) at Wrangle Hill itself. Clarks Corner Road travels southward from the intersection to Cox Neck Road and North St. Georges. The SR 1 Turnpike interchange with U.S. 13 & Delaware 72 exists 1.75 miles to the west. Photo taken 04/04/04. |
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The northbound beginning of Delaware 72 parts ways with Delaware 9 (River Road). Delaware 72 constitutes a circuitous route between Delaware City, Newark, and the Pike Creek Valley. Delaware 9 meanwhile meanders through wetlands between the U.S. 13 & Delaware 1 corridors and the Delaware River itself between Delaware City and New Castle. Photo taken 04/04/04. |
| Northern Terminus
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Approaching the northern conclusion of Delaware 72 (Curtis Mill Road) at junction Delaware 7 (Limestone Road) in the Pike Creek Valley. A widening project expanded Limestone Road from two to four lanes between Delaware 72 and Brackenville Road between 1999 and 2003. The project expanded Curtis Mill Road intersection with Delaware 7 as well. Photo taken 04/17/04.
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Two lanes of Delaware 72 (Curtis Mill Road) default onto Delaware 7 (Limestone Road) northbound toward Hockessin. Construction of the intersect eliminated the Vincent Lane access road to an adjacent shopping center from across Curtis Mill Road at Delaware 7. Limestone Road crosses the Pennsylvania state line 2.8 miles to the north and meets junction Pennsylvania 41 (Gap Newport Road) 0.9 miles from there. Photo taken 04/17/04. |
| Delaware 72 north
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Approaching junction Delaware 71 (Red Lion Road) along Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) northbound at the community of Red Lion. Delaware 71 and 72 cross each other on respective northerly paths to Tybouts Corner and Glasgow. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Older Eagle signals in operation at the Delaware 71 and 72 intersection at Red Lion. Delaware 71 south continues to Lums Pond State Park and junction U.S. 301 & Delaware 896 near Summit Bridge. Delaware 71 north continues a short distance to its end at the U.S. 13 & Delaware 1 trumpet interchange southeast of BearS. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Northbound reassurance shield on Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) posted after the intersection with Delaware 71 (Red Lion Road). Wrangle Hill Road continues another mile to Porter Road and 2.4 miles to junction U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway). Suburban sprawl is well underway along Delaware 72 between Wrangle Hill and Glasgow (U.S. 40). Photo taken 04/17/04. |
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The intersection between Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) and U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) fronts the Fox Run Shopping Center. The junction was expanded and improved between 1999-2000 to improve the efficiency and safety of the intersection. North of here Delaware 72 becomes Sunset Lake Road. U.S. 40 meets the northern terminus of U.S. 301 and Delaware 896 1.4 miles to the west at Glasgow. Photo taken 04/17/04. |
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Delaware 2 east & 72 northbound travel Library Avenue over the AMTRAK Northeast corridor into the College Square area of east Newark. The two-lane highway expands to four overall lanes between Wyoming Road and the junction with West Main Street (Delaware 2 Business & 273). Delaware Avenue carries Delaware 2 Business & 273 eastbound to Delaware 2 & 72 at the upcoming intersection. Photo taken 03/27/04. |
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Library Avenue northbound at the eastern terminus of Delaware 2 Business (Delaware Avenue) and merge with Delaware 273 east. An entrance to the College Square Shopping Center ties into the intersection from the right. Delaware Avenue itself is eastbound only. Photo taken 03/27/04. |
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The only sign bridge in all of Newark resides on Delaware 2-273 east & 72 north (Library Avenue) ahead of the West Main Street/Newark Christiana Road intersection. The assembly saw installation in 1980 to guide motorists through the upcoming junction where Delaware 273 eastbound splits from Delaware 2 & 72 to Ogletown. A greenout over "WEST" above the Delaware 2 shield displays "BUSINESS" for when Delaware 2 relocated around 1990. Photo taken 03/28/04. |
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Mast arm assemblies govern the movements between Delaware 2, 2 Business, 72, and 273. Delaware 2 Business begins to the left along East Main Street with Delaware 273 west. Delaware 2 & 72 continue northward onto the Robert Kirkwood Highway ahead. To the Delaware 273 travels the four-lane Newark Christiana Road to Ogletown, Interstate 95, and Christiana. Photo taken 03/27/04. |
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Kirkwood Highway passes underneath the CSX Railroad between Main Street and the intersection of Cleveland and Woodlawn Avenues. Cleveland Avenue provides a third east-west route between west Newark and Delaware 2 & 72 parallel to the railroad line. Woodlawn Avenue travels eastward into a residential area to the right. Photo taken 03/28/04. |
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Nearing the White Clay Creek crossing on Delaware 2 east & 72 north (Kirkwood Highway) at Anna Way. A Delaware 2 westbound sign is posted for Dillwyn Road and an adjacent u-turn lane for trucks that are unable to make the left-hand turn from Kirkwood Highway westbound onto Cleveland Avenue. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Delaware 2 east & 72 north reassurance shield posted near the Dillwyn Road intersection and White Clay Creek crossing. The pair depart the Newark city limits east of the creek. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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The split of Delaware 2 east and 72 north occurs at the Kirkwood Highway intersection with Possum Park Road. Delaware 72 turns left onto Possum Park Road northbound 2.9 miles into northeast Newark, the Middle Run Natural Area, and White Clay Creek State Park. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Delaware 72 shield posted on Curtis Mill Road northbound after the intersection with Upper Pike Creek Road & North Star Road in the Pike Creek Valley. The final stretch of the highway ascends to the terminus at Delaware 7 (Limestone Road). Photo taken 04/17/04. |
| Delaware 72 south
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Descending toward the merge with Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway) on Possum Park Road southbound. Delaware 72 turns westward onto Kirkwood Highway into the city limits of Newark with Delaware 2. The tandem remain together for 2.8 miles between Possum Park Road and Delaware 4 (Chestnut Hill Road). Photo taken 03/27/04. |
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Delaware 72 (Possum Park Road) at Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway). The Kirkwood Highway provides a major commuter route between the cities of Newark and Wilmington. The state highway consists of a four to six lane arterial throughout the 8.5-mile drive. Delaware 2 & 72 cross the Newark corporate limits at the White Clay Creek Crossing just east of the Possum Park Road intersection. Photo taken 03/27/04. |
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Delaware 2 west & 72 south (Kirkwood Highway) at the intersection with Cleveland Avenue and CSX Railroad over crossing. The tandem intersects East Main Street ahead (Delaware 2 Business & 273 west) at the end of the Robert Kirkwood Highway. From there Delaware 2 & 72 travel Library Avenue southward across the AMTRAK northeastern corridor onto South Chapel Street to junction Delaware 4 (Chestnut Hill Road). Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Delaware 2 west & 72 south reassurance shields posted along Library Avenue between Delaware 2 Business & 273 (Main Street) east and Delaware 2 Business & 273 (Delaware Avenue) west. College Square Shopping Center lies east of the forthcoming intersection. The Newark Free Library resides to the right. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Nearing the split of Delaware 2 west from Delaware 72 south at the South Chapel Street intersection with Delaware 4 (Chestnut Hill Road). Delaware 2 joins Delaware 4 west along Chestnut Hill Road and Christina Parkway to the Bob Carpenter Center and Elkton Road. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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A large signalized intersection represents the junction between Delaware 2, 4, and 72. Pencader Shopping Center resides along the southwest corner of the junction. Delaware 4 (Chestnut Hill Road) east heads to Ogletown; Delaware 2 & 4 share pavement to Elkton Road where Delaware 4 ends. Delaware 72 continues along South Chapel Street to Old Baltimore Pike south of the Interstate 95 over crossing. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Delaware 72 (South Chapel Street) transitions to Sunset Lake Road south of the intersection with Old Baltimore Pike. Old Baltimore Pike represents a suburban corridor between Maryland 281 and Delaware 7 in Christiana. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Southbound reassurance marker posted after the intersection with Old Baltimore Pike on Delaware 72 (Sunset Lake Road). Sunset Lake Road reduces quickly from four to two lanes. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Entering the junction with U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) on Delaware 72 (Sunset Lake Road) south. The two highways come together at Fox Run Shopping Center in a growing suburban area east of Glasgow and west of Bear. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Continuing south, Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) nears the intersection with Porter Road. Porter Road travels west to U.S. 301 & Delaware 896 (Summit Bridge Road) south of Glasgow and east to the split with Old Porter Road (which leads east to Red Lion) and north to U.S. 40 west of Bear. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Snow flurries fall as Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) continues a southeasterly route toward Wrangle Hill and Delaware City. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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Junction Delaware 71 (Red Lion Road) on Delaware 72 (Wrangle Hill Road) south near Williamsburg. Both Delaware 71 and 72 represent growing suburban corridors as they lead southward from U.S. 40. Delaware 71 north heads to Red Lion and south to Kirkwood and Lums Pond State Park. Photo taken 01/02/08. |
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U.S. 13 & Delaware 72 southbound (Wrangle Hill Road) on the overpass of Delaware 1 near Wrangle Hill. Depicted here is the U.S. 13 & Delaware 1 northbound shield assembly for the upcoming on-ramp. A diamond interchange joins the turnpike with Wrangle Hill Road. Photo taken 04/17/04. |
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U.S. 13 northbound merges with Delaware 1 between Wrangle Hill and Tybouts Corner as the original DuPont Highway was partially built over by the SR 1 Turnpike. This results in a short overlap between U.S. 13 and Delaware 72 between Delaware 1 and DuPont Highway. Photo taken 04/17/04. |
Page Updated January 5, 2008.
