Delaware 141 loops around the city of Wilmington between New Castle and Fairfax. Commissioned in 1952, the state route includes the Newport Freeway, the only other non-Interstate freeway in Delaware besides Delaware 1. Beginning at the junction of Delaware 9 & 273 in historic New Castle, Delaware 141 travels Basin Road northward to junction U.S. 13 & 40 (Dupont Highway) and the southern terminus of U.S. 202. There an antiquated cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between the two surface arterials. The ramps are signed as Exit 1A/B of Delaware 141 even though Basin Road is not a freeway at that point.

Northward U.S. 202 joins Delaware 141 on Basin Road between the New Castle County Airport and junction Interstates 95-295-495 (Exits 2 and 3A/B). Three traffic signals resides along the four-lane highway between U.S. 13 & 40 and the Newport Freeway. They exist at Jay Drive (Chelsea Estates), Delaware 37 (Commons Boulevard), and Airport Road (southbound only). DelDOT recently completed (Winter 2005) an improvement project involving Basin Road between New Castle and Interstate 95. The project entailed reconstruction of the mainline pavement with new asphalt, safety improvements along U.S. 202 & Delaware 141 north of the Dupont Highway, rehabilitation of the bridge structure carrying Basin Road over U.S. 13 & 40, and various other elements such as traffic signal timing adjustments, sidewalk construction, pedestrian signals, and lighting and aesthetic improvements. Also included are improvements to the overall traffic flow north of U.S. 13 & 40. These include the closing of the Delaware and Pennsylvania Avenue intersects with Basin Road (both roads now end in cul-de-sacs) and the extension of Washington Avenue northward to a full-access signalized intersection with Delaware 141. The Washington Avenue intersection now provides access to Delaware and Pennsylvania Avenues and also provides the U-turn movement from Delaware 141 north to U.S. 13 south & 40 west (former Exit 1B via Delaware Avenue). The on-ramp from Dupont Highway southbound now includes a full acceleration lane in place of what was the Delaware Avenue turn off. All related work was slated for completion by August 2004.¹

Basin Road becomes the Newport Freeway at the Airport Road intersection. There the north and southbound carriageways of U.S. 202 & Delaware 141 diverge and cross over Interstates 295 and 95. U.S. 202 departs Delaware 141 for Interstate 95 northward into the city of Wilmington. The relocation of the federal highway from its former terminus at Farnhurst to Basin Corner occurred on December 7, 1984. For the most part however Delawareans only refer to Basin Road or Interstate 95 along the overlapped portions as Route 141 or I-95 respectively. The interchange between the Newport Freeway and Interstate 95 (Delaware Turnpike) comprises a large cloverleaf with collector/distributor lanes on Interstate 295 north and Interstate 95 south. Delaware 141 southbound features an Exit 2 loop ramp directly onto the northbound beginning of Interstate 295. The overpasses of Delaware 141 and several of the ramps were rehabilitated between 2000 and 2001.

Constructed between 1971 and 1979, the Newport Freeway cuts a swath through the heart of Newport. The limited access highway was built to relieve congestion through the town along Newport Gap Pike (Delaware 41) dating as far back as 1961.² While the construction of the viaduct through town displaced many businesses and residents, Delaware 141 put Newport on the map due to its direct access to Interstate 95 and 295.

The Newport Freeway begins at Interstate 95 & 295 and ends at Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway). The freeway travels above Newport via a four-lane viaduct and below Belvedere along a depressed four to six lane expressway. Interchanges exist with Delaware 4 (Justis and Main Streets), South James Street (southbound only), Delaware 62 (Boxwood Road), and Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway). An abrupt end of the limited access highway occurs at Prices Corner where Delaware 141 becomes Ferris Road. The partial cloverleaf interchange at Delaware 2 (Exits 6A/B) features a concrete stub ramp for a never completed c/d roadway on northbound. Delaware 141 descends from above Delaware 2 to become an at-grade facility northward to Greenville.

Known as Ferris Road at first, Delaware 141 becomes Centre Road as it cuts through older residential subdivisions west of Elsmere. The four-lane roadway is undivided here and features residential frontage roads through to the junction with Delaware 34 (Faulkland Road). Speed limits are posted at 35 MPH through the stretch. At present DelDOT is widening Delaware 141 between Delaware 2 and 34 to accommodate left-hand turning movements into the adjoining neighborhoods.

At Delaware 34, Delaware 141 widens to include a grassy median and full shoulders. Now northwest of Wilmington, the state route continues to Delaware 48 & 100 (Lancaster Pike) and a partial cloverleaf interchange at Delaware 52 (Kennett Pike). Delaware 100 joins Delaware 141 between Lancaster and Kennett Pikes. A short freeway segment exists between old Barley Mill Road and Delaware 52. The limited access highway passes underneath an abandoned railroad bridge and Delaware 52 before intersecting Delaware 100 (Montchanin Road). The movements between both Delaware 52 and 141 include six ramps and Montchanin Road between Barley Mill Road and Kennett Pike. Delaware 100 departs Delaware 141 via Montchanin Road northbound.

An abrupt downgrade of Delaware 141 occurs east of Montchanin Road (Delaware 100) on the approach to the Brandywine Creek. The four-lane divided expressway narrows to two lanes as it crosses the high-level Tyler McConnell Bridge. Opened in December of 1952, the two-lane span ends at the intersection of Powder Mill Road, Barley Mill Road, and the entrance to the Dupont Experimental Station (D Road). There Delaware 141 turns northward via Powder Mill Road along a four-lane alignment to Fairfax.

Upgrades have taken place along Powder Mill Road beyond the Dupont Experimental Station. The four-lane highway includes a signalized intersection with Alapocas Drive, and a 1998-completed underpass for Rockland Road. A new access road between Rockland Road and Delaware 141 opened to facilitate the movements between the two roads in 1998. Known as Childrens Drive, the connector links Powder Mill Road with Rockland Road at the Dupont Children's Hospital. North of there, Delaware 141 passed through the Astra-Zenica Pharmaceuticals company campus before ending at the intersection of U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and Murphy Road. However that area of Delaware 141 saw a complete reconfiguration with completion of the Blue Ball construction projects.

Blue Ball Construction Project

See Blue Ball @ AARoads for photos covering the completed road elements of the project.

Completed in 2007, the Blue Ball construction element involving Delaware 141 realigns the state highway from Power Mill Road onto a new alignment between Children's Drive and U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) at Foulk Road (Delaware 261). Originally designated Delaware 141 Spur, the alignment now carries the state road mainline southeast around the Astra-Zenica plant to a new end at the partial interchange with U.S. 202 and Delaware 261. Old Delaware 141 remains as simply Power Mill Road east to U.S. 202 at Murphy Road. Childrens Drive remains as the connector between new Delaware 141 and nearby Rockland Road at the DuPont Children's Hospital.

Delaware 141 north travels southeast between Children's Drive to a grade-separated interchange with U.S. 202. Lands surrounding the original Rockland Road and Delaware 261 (Foulk Road) intersection with U.S. 202 were recreated as a state park. New West Park Road travels between Augustine Cut-off and Delaware 141 (Route 141 Spur) to the west of U.S. 202 and East Park Road travels from West Park Road to Weldin Road east of U.S. 202. Delaware 141 north ends as Delaware 261 north of the U.S. 202 interchange at Weldin Road west of the East Park Road.

Map illustrating the complicated reconfiguration of U.S. 202, Delaware 141, Delaware 261, Rockland Road, and Powder Mill Road. [click for larger]

Delaware 141 Freeway

The legacy of Delaware 141 does not end there. Mentioned as recently as 1992 and included in the 1990 issued 2010 plan for New Castle County, Delaware 141 was to comprise a full freeway between Interstate 95 south of Newport and U.S. 202 at Blue Ball. The route would constitute a western beltway for the city of Wilmington and feature interchanges at Delaware 48 (Lancaster Pike), Delaware 100 (Montchanin Road), Alapocas Road, and U.S. 202. The alignment would upgrade the Exit 8 interchange of Interstate 95 and stretch of U.S. 202 between Fairfax and Blue Ball as a full freeway.

DelDOT chief design engineer C. David Jamison commented in a November 19, 1992 News Journal Article that the department was committed to Delaware 141 corridor in an effort to prevent build-up of traffic on local area side roads and outer roads in northern New Castle County. In addition to addressing those concerns, five of the state's seven largest employers were situated along the Delaware 141 corridor. Details of the $100+ million Delaware 141 Freeway plan as of 1992 are as follows (tentative contract award dates in parenthesis):⁵

• $10 million - widen Delaware 141 between Rockland Road and U.S. 202 at Old Murphy Road (late 1992)
• $20 million - new twin bridge over Brandywine Creek (late 1993)
• $14 million - reconstruct and build new interchanges along Delaware 141 between Delaware 52 (Kennett Pike) and Alapocas Road (late 1994)
• $6 million - reconstruct Delaware 141 between Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway) and Wagoner Drive (late 1996)
• $17 million - reconstruct Delaware 141 between Wagoner Drive to south of Delaware 48 (Lancaster Pike) (late 1997)
• $13 million - construct new Alapocas Drive interchange (late 1997)
• $35+ million - build new interchange between Interstate 95 & U.S. 202 for Delaware 141 at Blue Ball (1999)
• $15 million - construct new Delaware 48 & 100 (Lancaster Pike) interchange (after 1999)
• $66 million - build new interchange between Interstate 95 & U.S. 202-Delaware 141 south of Newport as part of a widening project (after 1999)

Unfortunately many area residents did not embrace the Delaware 141 freeway plan and much of the project was cancelled. The Rockland Road underpass project is but one of a few smaller elements of the overall scheme to come to fruition. One of the biggest hurdles otherwise faced by planners was the replacement of the two-lane Tyler McConnell Bridge with a new six-lane high level bridge. The bridge was to built 25 feet higher than the existing two-lane span. Many citizens voiced concern against the new span citing that it would destroy the rustic element of the Brandywine valley through there and effect the nearby historic Hagley Museum. They asked planners to pare down the plan at first than consider just upgrading the existing span. Some contended that the Tyler McConnell Bridge is a historic structure and redesigning it also garners opposition.

Other portions of the Delaware 141 freeway never got off the ground due to the dense development along its frontage between Delaware 2 and 34. The high costs associated with property acquisition of the area were one of the many factors that have shelved any upgrading of Delaware 141 along this stretch. Instead DelDOT approved a more subtle expansion of Delaware 141 north of Prices Corner that includes building of a continuous center turn lane. The bottleneck at Tyler McConnell Bridge and increased development in northern Delaware otherwise continue to overwhelm the highway.

Tyler McConnell Bridge

Built between 1951 and 1952, the Tyler McConnell Bridge spans the Brandywine Creek over a deep valley between Montchanin Road (Delaware 100) and Powder Mill Road. The 816' long metal-girder bridge features 12 spans and is 33' wide. Plans for the bridge began in 1948 with the announcement of the DuPont Company to construct its experimental station along the banks of the Brandywine in north Wilmington. In an effort to improve access to the site, DuPont donated $250,000 toward the construction of a new bridge. Two types of bridges were considered for the crossing. After considerations for building a steel arch bridge vs. a metal-girder bridge, it was decided to go with the more economical metal-girder type. The span features some of the earliest uses of reinforced concrete hammerhead pier supports, a popular design used throughout the world today.⁴

Proposals vary between the construction of a companion metal-girder bridge alongside the current span or the construction of two new variable depth concrete-girder or a four-lane elliptical arch bridge. Consideration are taken to maintain the character of the area and to blend in any potential new span into the historic nature of the Brandywine valley. A fifth option involves the creation of a four-lane multiple parabolic bridge option as determined by input from public workshops and feedback garnered about the four previous alternatives. The decision on what to do remains in question and the potential for the existing Tyler McConnell Bridge to be added the National Register of Historic Landmarks due to its innovative design may throw an additional wrench into the plans on how to address the congestion of Delaware 141 above. Cost estimates range from $26 million for the companion bridge concept to $40 million for the multiple arch bridge.³

Delaware 141 Mileage Table

Delaware 141 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

• 18,266 - Delaware 273/Chestnut Street to University Avenue
• 39,617 - U.S. 13-40/Dupont Highway (Exit 1) to Delaware 37 (Commons Boulevard)
• 77,734 - Interstate 95 (Exit 3) to Delaware 4/Newport (Exit 4)
• 41,883 - Exit 5/Delaware 62 - Boxwood Road to Exit 6/Delaware 2 & 41 Kirkwood Highway
• 21,472 - Exit 6/Delaware 2-41 Kirkwood Highway to Road 330
• 30,445 - Delaware 34/Faulkland Road to Delaware 48-100/Lancaster Pike
• 41,291 - Barley Mill Plaza to Delaware 52/Kennett Pike interchange
• 27,340 - Road 279 (Dupont plant entrance) to Alapocas Drive
• 23,380 - Rockland Road to U.S. 202/Concord Pike

Delaware 141 Terminus Collection

Southern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 141 south
	Basin Road carries Delaware 141 to its end at the intersection of Frenchtown Road (Delaware 273 west), Washington Avenue (Delaware 9 south), and Delaware Avenue (Delaware 9 north & 273 east). Welcome to the town of New Castle. Washington Avenue continues the trajectory of Basin Road into downtown New Castle via Delaware 9. Delaware 9 north & 273 east straddle the northern reaches of town via Delaware Avenue, Ferry Cutoff Street, and 6th Street. Photo taken 04/03/04.
	The end shield of Delaware 141 replaced the U.S. 13 & 40 trailblazers in the Delaware 9 & 273 shield assembly on Basin Road south. Note the change between the above photograph and here. The cosigning of Delaware 9 & 273 is a remnant from when Delaware 9 used 7th Street-South Street-6th Street through central New Castle to Ferry Cutoff Street (Delaware 273). Delaware 273 remains signed east of Delaware 141 most likely as a convenience for area residents. Photo taken 12/19/01.
Perspective from Delaware 9 south & 273 west
	Westbound on Delaware Avenue (Delaware 9 south & 273 west) on the approach to the south end of Delaware 141 (Basin Road) and Delaware 9 & 273 split. The scene here drastically changed in 1994 with the removal of a railroad underpass along Delaware Avenue over the abandoned Conrail tracks. Crews removed the span and reconstructed Delaware Avenue as a surface roadway with full shoulders. Photo taken 04/10/04.
	Delaware 9 south & 273 west expand as they enter the confluence of Delaware 141 (Basin Road), Washington Avenue (Delaware 9 south) and Frenchtown Road (Delaware 273 west). The intersection represents the northern corner of the New Castle corporate limits. Delaware 9 turns southward into town again via Washington Avenue and West Seventh Street to the left. Photo taken 04/10/04.
	Delaware 273 westbound continues straight through the Basin Road & Washington Avenue intersection to Hares Corner and junction U.S. 13 & 40 (Dupont Highway). Delaware 141 follows Basin Road 1.2 miles northward to the cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 13 & 40 and U.S. 202's southern terminus. Basin Road constitutes a four-lane arterial between New Castle and the Newport Freeway. Photo taken 04/10/04.
Perspective from Delaware 273 east
	Delaware 273 (Frenchtown Road) eastbound approaching the southern terminus of Delaware 141 (Basin Road) and merge with Delaware 9 (Washington Avenue). Delaware 9 saw relocation in the 1980s from 7th Street, South Street, and 6th Street to Washington Avenue and Delaware Street to bypass parts of downtown New Castle. The relocation resulted in a duplicative overlap with Delaware 273 between Delaware 141 and 6th Street via Delaware and Ferry Cut Off Streets. Photo taken 04/10/04.
	Eastbound at the merge with Delaware 9 and northbound beginning of Delaware 141 (Basin Road). Basin Road carries Delaware 141, and eventually U.S. 202 as well, three miles northward to Interstate 95-295-495 and the Newport Freeway. Delaware 9 turns east from Washington Avenue north onto Delaware 273 (Delaware Street) for an 0.9-mile overlap to the intersection of 6th and Chestnut Streets. Photo taken 04/10/04.

Northern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 141 north
		A pair of end shields posted for Delaware 141 reside ahead of the Foulk Road intersection with Weldin Road. Delaware 261 takes over from here and continues northward along Foulk Road toward Arden and the Pennsylvania state line. Photos taken 12/23/06.
	Delaware 141 ends; Delaware 261 begins at the intersection with Weldin Road. Weldin Road west ties into U.S. 202 north at Independence Mall; eastbound provides connections with Rockwood and Shipley Roads north out of Wilmington. Photo taken 12/23/06.

Perspective from Delaware 261 south
	Delaware 261 ends and Delaware 141 begins. Weldin Road west provides the movement onto U.S. 202 north; interests to U.S. 202 south and Interstate 95 should remain on Delaware 141 south to the nearby off-ramp to Concord Pike. Weldin Road east in conjunction with Shipley Road and Baynard Boulevard connects Foulk Road with Delaware 3 (Marsh Road) and north Wilmington. Photo taken 12/23/06.
Perspective from Weldin Road east
	Weldin Road eastbound at the joint terminus of Delaware 261 south and Delaware 141 north. Weldin Road east continues to East Park Drive, Rockwood Road, and its end at Shipley Road otherwise. Photo taken 05/19/07.
Former Northern Terminus
Perspective from Delaware 141 north
	Former End shield posted for Delaware 141 northbound at the Powder Mill Road intersection with U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and Murphy Road. Concord Pike is a busy north-south corridor with six overall lanes between Interstate 95 and the Pennsylvania state line. The arterial is lined with heavy commercial development and numerous traffic lights. Ahead Murphy Road continues eastward from former Delaware 141 through Fairfax to junction Delaware 261 (Foulk Road) and Wilson Road. This intersection was redesigned in 1999 to coincide with a Delaware 141 improvement project through the Astra-Zenica area. Photo taken 04/26/04.
Perspective from Murphy Road west
	Murphy Road westbound at the original southbound beginning of Delaware 141 (Powder Mill Road) and U.S. 202 (Concord Pike). Murphy Road stems 0.7 miles west from Delaware 261 (Foulk Road) and Wilson Road through the Fairfax community to Concord Pike at Powder Mill Road. Photo taken 04/26/04.
Perspective from U.S. 202 north
	U.S. 202 northbound at former Delaware 141 (Powder Mill Road) and Murphy Road. To the left is the sprawling Astra Zenica pharmaceutical complex and the Rollins high rise. To the right Murphy Road begins eastward from Delaware 141 to junction Delaware 261 (Foulk Road) where it becomes Wilson Road en route to Shipley Road and junction Delaware 3 (Marsh Road) & Veale Road. Photo taken 03/22/04.
Perspective from U.S. 202 south
	Six lanes of U.S. 202 travel through the community of Fairfax to the former northern terminus of Delaware 141 (Powder Mill Road). Powder Mill Road (former Delaware 141) westbound departs U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) to the Tyler McConnel Bridge and Greenville. Photo taken 04/21/04.

Sources:
1 - SR 141 Basin Road Improvements Project (DelDOT)
2 - "Town Down Under - As traffic hurtles on 'the asphalt monster' overhead, a 300-year-old town inches toward the future." The News Journal (DE), July 16, 2001.
3 - "Tyler McConnell Bridge Over Brandywine Creek - Project Purpose and Need." RKK Engineers, June 12, 2003.
4 - Delaware Historic Bridges, Delaware Department of Transportation.
5 - "Del. 141: $100 million face-lift." The News Journal (DE), November 19, 1992.

Delaware 141 Highway Guides

• Delaware 141 Northbound
• Delaware 141 Southbound

Delaware 141 Offsite Links

• Delaware 141 Freeway @ PhillyRoads.com
• SR 141 Basin Road Improvements Project (DelDOT)
• Tyler McConnell Bridge Project (RKK Engineers)
• Delaware Roads - DE 141 (Steve Alpert)

Page Updated September 7, 2007.