A Brief History of Newark
The roots of Newark begin in 1758 as a small market village at the crossroads of two old Indian trails in northwestern New Castle County. The founding of what would later become the University of Delaware occurred in 1765 as a small grammar school. In 1837, the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroad opens through Newark. By 1852 700 residents called Newark home with that figure doubling by 1900 with the arrival of railroads and industry. In 1921 Delaware College and the Women's College of Delaware become the University of Delaware. The Chrysler Corporation opened a defense assembly plant in south Newark by 19511 and the DelChapel Plant along South Chapel Street and the 1853-opened Curtis Paper Company along Paper Mill Road represented some of the job opportunities closer to downtown. With all that stated the main driving force in the city of Newark has long since been the University itself.
City of Newark highway map with state routes shown in brown. Map created by Kelly Krapp (October 2007).
What was once a small college blossomed into a full fledged university in the 1970s and early 1980s. The college roster swelled from about 5,000 students to 15,000 during that time period without much expansion in the way of on-campus housing. The populations figured continue to grow to an astounding 21,000 students enrolled per year.1 During that time period the cosmetic makeup of the city underwent a massive change. Gone are the farmers market, mom and dad shops, and small town charm. Those amenities died in the 1980s leaving the city somewhat empty for a short period of time. During the 1990s the business landscape of Newark, and Main Street in particular, underwent a metamorphosis that ultimately renewed the downtown area as a place to visit, shop, dine, and party for college students and townies alike. Gone are the Newark Mini Mall, Woolworth, and the State Theater. In their place are trendy places such as the Main Street Galleria, the Iron Hill Brewery, and the Brew HaHa! espresso café. These college-student orientated businesses join the historic Newark bars such as the Deer Park Tavern and Klondike Kates. What all of this means for the city is additional visitors and additional traffic. At present Main Street in Newark (Delaware 2 Business & 273) carries over 32,000 vehicles a day as of 2002 traffic counts...
The Newark Beltway
The Newark beltway was a proposed network of roads to encircle the city from the west, south, and east between the Maryland state line and Delaware 7 (Limestone Road). Around 1970 a study was undertaken by the state of Delaware to construct a multi lane highway around the growing city of Newark. The intention of this highway was to provide an adequate transportation infrastructure for the expanding city and traffic that it would entail. Upon completion, the beltway would have followed existing Delaware 4, a new alignment along the state line (roughly parallel to Casho Mill Road), a new alignment through what is now White Clay Creek State Park, parts of current Linden Hill Road and Delaware 72 (Possum Park Road), and a portion along the defunct Pike Creek Freeway.
The Existing sections of the Newark Beltway:
The aforementioned Delaware 4 (Christina Parkway and Chestnut Hill Road) encompasses the southern segment of the beltway. From Elkton Road (Delaware 2 & 2 Business) to Delaware 72 (South Chapel Street), Delaware 4 exists almost entirely as a four-lane divided facility with at-grade intersections. However, this was not the original plan as interchanges were slated along Delaware 4 at key intersections. Of the interchanges planned, a standard diamond was considered at Robscott Manor (Argyle Road) and the adjacent University of Delaware athletic facilities. Unfortunately for planners the interchange drew heavy criticism that ultimately led to its cancellation and the overall downgrading of Delaware 4 from limited or controlled access standards to an at-grade facility.
The section from old Chestnut Hill Road to Elkton Road is known as the Christiana Parkway. The parkway entails four lanes from the western entrance to the Chrysler Plant eastward to old Chestnut Hill Road. A two-lane bottleneck however exists between Elkton Road (Delaware 2 & 2 Business) and the west entrance due to a narrow bridge over the AMTRAK northeast corridor. Just to the east of the crossing is a 1998-installed traffic signal at a new second entrance to the Chrysler Plant. The Christina Parkway carries the three-way overlap of Delaware 2, 4, and 896 between Elkton Road and South College Avenue.
A proposal arose in the late 1990s to extend Christina Parkway northward from Elkton Road to Barksdale Road. The extension would open up landlocked open space for development and provide a through route for Cecil County traffic traveling through Newark. The original beltway alignment generally followed the arc of Christina Parkway northward along the state line to Delaware 273 (Nottingham Road). It is unclear as to whether or not the proposal was officially dropped or not but as of May 2004 no road construction was present north of Elkton Road.
Other proposals on how to address the Cecil County through traffic through Newark leads to a debate between city and county officials of the respective areas. Newark political leaders advocate a new roadway on the Cecil County side of the state line between Elkton Road and Maryland 273 (Nottingham Road). Cecil County leaders however contend that a new road through the primarily rural stretch would be overrun with development and thus bring unwelcome sprawl and congestion to the area. However Newark continued to argue that the roadway was essential for Maryland-based traffic that presently uses Delaware 273 through town to access the rest of New Castle County. Based upon that point, Newark officials felt the state of Maryland should accept responsibility for facilitating traffic to and from Delaware by way of Cecil County.
The northern part of the beltway existed only as a proposal and would have followed a path near Wedgewood, Pleasant Hill, and Hopkins Roads mostly through what is now White Clay Creek Park. A path between Hopkins Road to Linden Hill Road possibly by way of Delaware 72 (Possum Park Road) would turn traffic southeast into the Pike Creek Valley. From there however, the alignment of the beltway was very uncertain as preliminary discussion was cut before alternatives were drawn. A final element of the plan was the proposed Pike Creek Freeway between Delaware 7 (Limestone Road) by way of Linden Hill Road to the nonexistent Exit 2 on the Delaware Turnpike near the Delaware Turnpike Service Area.
The Pike Creek Freeway was an extension of a never built U.S. 301 freeway between the Delaware Turnpike and Middletown. The alignment stemmed northeastward from Interstate 95 across Delaware 4 & 273 to the junction of Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway) and Harmony Road. There an interchange would facilitate movements between the freeway and Kirkwood Highway. A multi lane at-grade highway would continue northward along the path of Upper Pike Creek Road to Linden Hill Road. Thus the beltway would be complete.
Newark Today
The Newark of today is overrun with heavy traffic eminating from college students, residents, and through traffic alike. With the ever increasing college population from the growing University of Delaware, the traffic counts continue to increase each semester. As of 2000 the city is home to 28,547 residents including the University related population. So where does all the traffic go? Newark roads are still quite cluttered during the summer when most students are away from campus. The only alternative is the Christina Parkway and Chestnut Hill Road (Delaware 2, 4, 896) south of the business district. Unfortunately without a direct connection to Delaware 273 (Nottingham Road) to the northwest, Christina Parkway is under used as a through route between northeastern Cecil County and Newark. The roadway however does act as a bypass for locals and through traffic avoiding the Delaware Turnpike toll plaza near Welsh Tract Road.
A Closer Look at Newark Area Roads
Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) transitions into Delaware 2 at the state line. Elkton Road provides a four-lane surface arterial between the city of Elkton, Maryland, Interstate 95 Exit 109, and west Newark. The state route turns eastward from Elkton Road via Christina Parkway (Delaware 4 & 896) to bypass downtown. Until about 1990 Delaware 2 however continued through town via Elkton Road and the one-way couplet of Main Street (westbound) and Delaware Avenue (eastbound). The relocation was undertaken in an effort to reroute through traffic away from the central business district and University of Delaware campus. Delaware 2 Business now takes the place of the original mainline through downtown. Delaware 2 meanwhile follows Chestnut Hill Road (Delaware 4) between Delaware 896 (South College Avenue) and Delaware 72 (South Chapel Street). At South Chapel Street Delaware 2 joins Delaware 72 on a north-south alignment east of town between Delaware 4 and Main Street (Delaware 273). At Main Street Delaware 2 becomes the four-lane divided Kirkwood Highway eastward out of the city limits.
Delaware 2 Guides
BUSINESS
Delaware 2 Business encompasses the former alignment of Delaware 2 through Newark between Delaware 4 (Christina Parkway) and Delaware 72 (Library Avenue). Delaware 2 Business & 896 share pavement along Elkton Road eastward from Christina Parkway (Delaware 2 & 4) into the west end of the business district. There Delaware 2 Business & 896 joint Delaware 273 along the one-way couplet of Main Street (westbound) and Delaware Avenue (eastbound). Delaware 896 northbound leaves Delaware Avenue (Delaware 2 Business & 273 east) for College Avenue two blocks in from the Elkton Road partition. From there Delaware 2 Business & 273 eastbound continue to Delaware 2 & 72 (Library Avenue) where Delaware 2 Business ends. Delaware 273 east turns northward along Library Avenue to rejoin its westbound component at the intersection of Main Street and Newark Christiana Road. Delaware 2 Business westbound begins at the same intersection traveling along Main Street with Delaware 273 to Elkton Road. Delaware 896 shares the final block of Main Street with the two highways and the first block of Elkton Road with Delaware 2 Business west.
See the guides for Delaware 273 Eastbound, Delaware 273 Westbound, and Delaware 896 Northbound for photos of Delaware 2 Business.
Originally beginning at the Maryland line on Chestnut Hill Road, Delaware 4 saw relocation onto the 1985-completed Christina Parkway. The construction of Interstate 95 in 1963 cut Chestnut Hill Road between Elkton Road and the state line. The new Christina Parkway brought the state highway onto a new northerly alignment to end the route one mile from the state border.
The Christina Parkway entails two to four lanes and two traffic signals for the Chrysler Plant on the stretch between Elkton Road (Delaware 2 & 2 Business) and South College Avenue (Delaware 896). Delaware 2 & 896 join Delaware 4 along the 1.4-mile road. At South College Avenue Delaware 896 turns southward to Interstate 95 Exit 1 and Glasgow. Christina Parkway becomes Chestnut Hill Road and continues as a four-lane divided highway 0.9 miles to junction Delaware 72 (South Chapel Street). There Delaware 2 departs the overlap with Delaware 4 for Delaware 72 northbound. Chestnut Hill Road leaves the Newark city limits ahead of the South Chapel Street intersection.
Delaware 4 Guides
Delaware 72 originally followed Paper Mill Road 2.1 miles southward from Possum Park Road to the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and North Chapel Street. The state route continued southward along Chapel Street 1.4 miles to the present intersection of Library Avenue and Old South Chapel Street. In 1972 as part of a statewide project to eliminate at-grade railroad crossings, a new alignment of Delaware 72 was constructed to bypass the AMTRAK railroad crossing to the east. Known as Library Avenue, the new alignment entails a two-lane crossing over the tracks southward from Delaware Avenue to the original South Chapel Street alignment. Coinciding with the road work was the creation of Wyoming Avenue between South Chapel Street and Library Avenue north of the railroad line. When all was said and done Chapel Street became discontinuous between East Park Place and a point one half mile to the south.
With the completion of the overpass and Library Avenue, Delaware 72 relocated from Paper Mill Road and Chapel Street through central Newark. From the intersection of Paper Mill Road and Thompson Station Road, Delaware 72 travels Possum Park Road southward 1.9 miles to junction Delaware 2 (Kirkwood Highway). From there Delaware 2 & 72 overlap along Kirkwood Highway and Library Avenue to South Chapel Street. The 2.8-mile overlap ends at Chestnut Hill Road outside the city limits of Newark. There Delaware 2 joins Delaware 4 through South Newark. Delaware 72 continues southward to Wrangle Hill and Delaware City.
See the Delaware 2 Eastbound and Delaware 2 Westbound guides for photos of Delaware 72
Delaware 273 is the last state highway in Newark to remains on its original alignment. An import from Cecil County, Maryland 273 becomes Delaware 273 on Nottingham Road in northwest Newark. The two-lane road is quite scenic through some of the nicer residential areas of town and the Newark Country Club and golf course amid rolling hills on the approach to downtown. Nottingham Road intersects Casho Mill Road, a secondary north-south road between Delaware 273 and Elkton Road, at the bottom of a valley alongside Timber Creek Park. From there Nottingham Road ascends to the intersection of Bent Lane where Delaware 273 becomes West Main Street.
Delaware 273 (West Main Street) joins Delaware 896 southbound (Hillside Road) 1.7 miles from the Maryland state line. Delaware 896 splits between the one-way couplet of Delaware Avenue-South College Avenue-West Main Street-New London Road (northbound) and Hillside Road-West Main Street-Elkton Road (southbound) at the west edge of town. Delaware 896 south overlaps with Delaware 273 between the intersection of Cleveland and Hillside Avenues to the east end of Elkton Road. Delaware 896 north overlaps with Delaware 273 west on the block of West Main Street between South College Avenue and New London Road.
A one-way couplet carries Delaware 273 through downtown Newark. Eastbound splits from westbound at the junction of West Main Street, New London Road, and Elkton Road. There eastbound turns southwest briefly on Elkton Road before resuming an easterly course on Delaware Avenue. Delaware 2 Business joins Delaware 273 for 1.2 miles on Delaware Avenue eastbound. Westbound Delaware 273 follows Main Street through the business district with Delaware 2 Business for one mile.
Eastbound Delaware 273 turns northward on Library Avenue (Delaware 2 & 72) at the College Square Shopping Center and east end of Delaware Avenue. Two tenths of a mile northward the split directions of Delaware 273 join at the intersection of East Main Street and Newark Christiana Road. Delaware 273 exits the city via a four-lane divided highway en route to Ogletown. Widening of the two-lane highway occurred between 1996 and 1998 to coincide with a partial interchange and grade separation at Delaware 4 (Ogletown Stanton Road) at Ogletown. The Delaware 273 bridges over Delaware 4 were completed in 1991 but sat unused until the summer of 1997 due to environmental concerns surrounding the adjacent wetlands.
Delaware 273 Guides
TRUCK
There were signs posted along the one block area of Hillside Road (Delaware 896 south) between West Main Street (Delaware 273) and New London Road (Delaware 896 north) during the 1990s. The path of the truck route was uncertain and their point became moot when signs were removed by 2000.
An import from Pennsylvania, Delaware 896 (New London Road) actually enters the state from a short unsigned portion of Maryland 896 at the Northeastern corner of that state. The two-lane highway links the city of Newark with rural Chester County, Pennsylvania and the U.S. 30 corridor. Upon entering the Diamond State Delaware 896 encounters the beautiful White Clay Creek State Park. The two-lane highway features full shoulders and a 50 mph speed limit north of the Newark city line. Upon entering Newark at Scotch Pine Road the speed limit reduces to 35 mph.
1.2 miles into the city of Newark is the split of north and southbound Delaware 896 into separate components. Delaware 896 southbound turns one block west onto Hillside Avenue from the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and New London Road north of downtown. From there Delaware 896 south joins Delaware 273 along one block of West Main Street and before turning westward onto Elkton Road. Delaware 896 northbound travels Delaware Avenue eastbound from Elkton Road two blocks to South College Avenue. One block north on South College Avenue and one block west on West Main Street brings Delaware 896 northbound onto New London Road north. The configuration shares pavement with Delaware 2 Business & 273 through the University of Delaware campus.
The alignment of Delaware 896 used to be cut and dry through central Newark. The state route originally followed South College Avenue northward from south Newark into downtown. Main Street and New London Road were striped for two-way traffic at that time and Delaware 896 followed them exclusively with no splitting of its north and southbound components. Changes came to the alignment when the city of Newark restriped Delaware Avenue, Main Street, and the southernmost block of New London Road to one-way traffic.
Additional changes to Delaware 896 occurred in the 1980s. In an effort to move traffic away from the University of Delaware campus and downtown in general, Delaware 896 was relocated to an overlap with Delaware 2 Business (Elkton Road) and Delaware 2 & 4 (Christina Parkway) southwest of central Newark. Reasoning for the relocation involve the many crosswalks and pedestrians traveling across campus between Park Place and West Main Street in association with the University of Delaware campus. Also of interest is that the South College Avenue railroad crossing at the AMTRAK line was bypassed in the 1960s. A short one-block spur to Holton Place remains along the former path of South College Avenue (Delaware 896) west of the present overpass.
Delaware 896 returns to South College Avenue by way of Christina Parkway (Delaware 2 & 4) 1.7 miles south of downtown. South College Avenue constitutes a four-lane surface arterial between the AMTRAK undercrossing and the Exit 1 interchange of the Delaware Turnpike. The divided highway is lined with businesses and a few homes on the half mile stretch between Delaware 2 & 4 and Interstate 95. The Christina River represents the southern boundary of the Newark city limits where Delaware 896 enters the partial-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95.
Delaware 896 Guides
Photos around Newark
| Academy Street
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Academy Street cuts through the heart of the University of Delaware campus between East Park Place and Main Street (Delaware 2 Business & 273 west). The two-lane street serves many of the university facilities from the student center, to laboratories, to classroom halls. Pictured here is a set of pedestrian flashers near the intersection with Lovett Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Older shield assembly remaining on Academy Street northbound on the approach to Delaware Avenue (Delaware 2 Business & 273 eastbound). Delaware Avenue flows eastbound from Elkton Road to Library Avenue (Delaware 2 & 72). The heavily traveled thoroughfare also serves a good portion of the university and various commercial establishments and apartment complexes. The 2di-shields for Delaware 273 are rare for not only Newark but also the state of Delaware. The Delaware 2 shields do not include Business banners as they should. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Academy Street northbound at Delaware Avenue. The final block of the street is lined with the Newark Fire Station and residential row homes and the Grand Opera House Apartment Building. Academy Street otherwise peters out at Main Street ahead with an entrance to a Newark Public Parking Lot across the street. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
| Apple Road
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Apple Road composes a short north-south route between Barksdale Road and Dallas Avenue in west Newark. The road provides a route over the CSX Railroad line between Elkton Road and Barksdale Road without any height or width restrictions. Thus Apple Road is an important piece to the west Newark traffic movements. Pictured here is Apple Road southbound as it leaves its intersection with Barksdale Road to cross over the CSX line. The junction shield for Delaware 2 should have a Business banner and companion Delaware 896 shield associated with it. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Tucked in some foliage is a pair of Delaware 2 shields for the Apple Road southbound intersection with Elkton Road. Again these shields should display Business Delaware 2 as the mainline of Delaware 2 shifted to Chestnut Hill Road and Library Avenue in 1990. Additionally Elkton Road also carries Delaware 896 as of 1987. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Span wire assemblies at the intersection of Apple Road and Elkton Road (Delaware 2 Business & 896) were replaced with mast arm assemblies in 1994. In addition the movements of Apple Road are split phased meaning that only one direction of the roadway is given a green at a time. Most signals used throughout the city of Newark are split phased. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Four short blocks south of Elkton Road is the Apple Road intersection with West Park Place. The road transitions from a nominal through route to a residential street south of West Park Place. Nonetheless the intersection is signalized. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
| Barksdale Road
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Barksdale Road travels east from Appleton Road in Maryland to the city of Newark and Hillside Avenue. The roadway transitions from a shoulderless two-lane roadway to a suburban avenue once entering the state of Delaware. A short distance from there is the intersection with Casho Mill Road, a north-south through route between Elkton Road (Delaware 2 Business & 896) and Nottingham Road (Delaware 273). The signalized junction resides at the corners of Castro Mill Barksdale Park and Peter Marshall Park. The 42" Eagle signal hanging on the left is the oldest remaining traffic signal in Newark. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Delaware 2 & 896 trailblazers posted along Barksdale Road eastbound at the north end of Apple Road. Apple Road acts as a connector between Barksdale Road and West Park Place with an overcrossing of the CSX Railroad line. Unfortunately sign crews have yet to realize that Elkton Road is now Delaware 2 Business and not the Delaware 2 mainline. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Upgraded to a three-way stop by 2000, the intersection of Apple and Barksdale Roads became signalized in 2001. Barksdale Road continues a short distance eastward to Sypherd Drive where it name changes to Hillside Avenue. Apple Road crosses over the CSX Railroad and intersects Elkton Road south of that bridge. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
| Casho Mill Road
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Casho Mill Road meanders northward from Delaware 2 Business & 896 (Elkton Road) to Delaware 273 (Nottingham Road) through older suburban neighborhoods of west Newark. The road includes a grade separation with the CSX Railroad line midway between Elkton and Barksdale Roads. The underpass was the site of controversy for years because of its narrow nature that only allows one lane of traffic and lack of pedestrian access. In the 1990s, a jersey barrier and flourescent light fixture were set-up at the tunnel to further narrow the travel lane to accommodate a pedestrian walkway. That process was not greeted openly and residents continued to demand a more permanent solution. Due to the expensive cost, officials opted not to replace the underpass with a wider bridge due to disruptions to rail traffic on the busy CSX corridor above. Instead, a precast tunnel was punched through adjacent to the roadway, segregating vehicle and pedestrian traffic completely. These views look northbound on Casho Mill Road. A yield sign exists only for northbound motorists, though it is common for southbound motorists to stop and wave northbound drivers through, despite their right of way. Photos taken 05/15/05. |
| College Avenue
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College Avenue southbound at Delaware Avenue (Delaware 2 Business & 273 east and Delaware 896 north) within the heart of the University of Delaware Campus. College Avenue used to carry Delaware 896 south from Delaware Avenue to Chestnut Hill Road. However an 1980s realignment shifted the route onto the Christina Parkway and Elkton Road to bypass the U of D Campus between Delaware Avenue and Park Place. One block of College Avenue northbound however retains Delaware 896, between Delaware Avenue and East Main Street. Photo taken 05/15/05.S |
| Hillside Road
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The final block of Hillside Road eastbound between West Main Street (Delaware 273) and New London Road (Delaware 896). Delaware 896 southbound travels Hillside Road between the two arteries. Delaware 896 northbound departs downtown via northbound only New London Road. Pictured here is a northbound shield for the upcoming intersection. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Delaware 896 northbound joins southbound on New London Road north of Hillside Road. Hillside Road eastbound becomes Cleveland Avenue east of the signalized intersection. Cleveland Avenue provides a third east-west route through the heart of Newark between Delaware 273 (West Main Street) and Delaware 2 & 72 (Kirkwood Highway). Photo taken 04/24/04. |
| Chapel Street (Old Delaware 72)
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Chapel Street constitutes the original alignment of Delaware 72 through the heart of Newark. The north-south street continues Paper Mill Road southward from Cleveland Avenue to Amtrak's Northeastern Corridor near East Park Place and Wyoming Road. The street is extremely busy between Delaware Avenue (Delaware 2 Business & 273 east) and the intersection of Paper Mill Road, Cleveland Avenue, and Margaret Street. Pictured here is Chapel Street northbound on the approach to Main Street (Delaware 2 Business & 273 westbound). Like most Delaware 2 Business signs in Newark, the banner is omitted and signs still reflect that route as the Delaware 2 mainline. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Northbound Chapel Street at Main Street. Much of the Main Street corridor in Newark has transitioned from a small town mom and pop shop type street to a modernized commercial district. The commercial complex on the northwest corner of Chapel and Main Street was built in 1997 and houses several shops and eateries on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors. Additionally the former DelChapel Plant on Chapel Street was razed in 2000 and now houses a new apartment complex catering to University of Delaware students. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Originally installed in 1979 or so, this set of red flashers with the signs "Too High" and "Turn Out" is found on Chapel Street northbound ahead of its intersection with New Street. The signals are supposed to illuminate whenever a truck or bus exceeds the height clearance of the upcoming CSX Railroad bridge. Vehicles exceeding the height are to turn left onto New Street to double back to Main Street. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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The aforementioned CSX Railroad bridge over Chapel Street adjacent to the north entrance from Newark Shopping Center. Beyond the bridge is the five-way intersection of Cleveland Avenue, Paper Mill Road, and Margaret Street. A second railroad line used to cut diagonally from the right across the upcoming intersection en route to Avondale, Pennsylvania. This railroad corridor however was abandoned by 1980 and the tracks were subsequently removed later. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Chapel Street transitions into Paper Mill Road when it crosses Cleveland Avenue. Cleveland Avenue provides the third east-west through route for the city of Newark as it links West Main Street (Delaware 273), New London Road (Delaware 896), and Kirkwood Highway (Delaware 2). Margaret Street flows into the junction from the northeast and is one-way. Race Street departs Paper Mill Road ahead and meets up with Margaret Street along the White Clay Creek. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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A set of signals warns northbound motorists along Chapel Street of the low clearance of the CSX Railroad overpass adjacent to the intersection with Cleveland Avenue. Chapel Street (old Delaware 72) southbound otherwise continues toward East Main Street, junction Delaware 2 Business & 273 west. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Delaware 2 Business & 273 shield assembly posted ahead of the Chapel Street southbound intersection with West Main Street. Empty brackets, which now hold Amtrak, SEPTA, and snow-removal signage used to support a Delaware 72 south shield assembly. Delaware 2 Business & 273 otherwise are split between the one-way street couplet of East Main Street (west) and Delaware Avenue (east). Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Chapel Street southbound at East Main Street on the outskirts of downtown Newark. Main Street represents a dense commercial district based off the University of Delaware student and visitor base. Since 1990, redevelopment of the city has converted old style shops into densely populated shopping complexes and eateries. Chapel Street still represents a through route, despite its premature end at the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor a few blocks south of Delaware Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
| Cleveland Avenue
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The campus of the University of Delaware extends northward along North College Avenue to Ray Street. In the middle of this area is the Cleveland Avenue intersection with the north-south street. The CSX Railroad parallels Cleveland Avenue and sometimes causes backups on College Avenue into the pictured intersection. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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A five-way intersection exists on Cleveland Avenue at North Chapel Street (old Delaware 72) and Margaret Street. The junction used to also the Newark to Avondale, Pennsylvania railroad spur. To the right is the Newark Shopping Center along Chapel Street southbound. To the north Chapel Street becomes Paper Mill Road en route to the hills of north Newark. Margaret Street spurs northeastward to Race Street. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Cleveland Avenue underwent a transformation from small businesses and residences to an auto mall during the 1980s and 1990s. The four-lane arterial also saw a new traffic light in the early 1990s at Winner Boulevard. The dead end road serves a multitude of car dealerships on the north side. Among the displaced businesses along Cleveland Avenue were a pizza parlor, Chinese restaurant, and drive-in movie theater. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
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Cleveland Avenue draws to a close at junction Delaware 2 & 72 (Kirkwood Highway). The majority of traffic turns left onto Delaware 2 east & 72 north into the Pike Creek Valley. Straight ahead Cleveland Avenue becomes Woodlawn Avenue, a local residential street. Delaware 2 & 72 junction with Delaware 2 Business & 273 (East Main Street) to the right. Photo taken 04/24/04. |
| Chestnut Hill Road (Old Delaware 4)
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Chestnut Hill Road composes the former alignment of Delaware 4 between the Maryland state line and New Chestnut Hill Road near the Bob Carpenter Center. Iron Hill Road spurs southward from Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) to the west end of Chestnut Hill Road. From there the two-lane highway enters Delaware and sees a remaining Delaware 4 reassurance shield. The Christina Parkway opened by 1985 to relocate Delaware 4 northward. Photo taken 12/00. |
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Approaching Delaware 896 (South College Avenue) on Chestnut Hill Road eastbound. A jug handle handles the turning movements from Delaware 896 north onto Chestnut Hill Road westbound. The configuration is the only in the city of Newark and one of a few statewide. Chestnut Hill Road becomes Old Chestnut Hill Road between Delaware 896 and Delaware 4 (New Chestnut Hill Road) ahead. Photo taken 04/17/04. |
| Park Place
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Park Place provides a secondary east-west through route in the city of Newark. Although not signed as a through route and definitely not encouraged as one by locals, the residential street provides a viable cross town alternate to the congested Main Street and Delaware Avenue routings of Delaware 2 Business & 273. Four traffic signals are in use along Park Place between its ends at Elkton Road (Delaware 2 Business & 896) and South Chapel Street. The second of these traffic lights resides at Orchard Road and is pictured here. This set of signals is the only in the whole city of Newark to that features four signals hinged together. Orchard Road itself provides access to parts of the University of Delaware campus at Amstel and Delaware Avenues. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Continuing eastbound on Park Place at South College Avenue (Old Delaware 896). Park Place is signed as West Park Place west of College Avenue and East Park Place east of College Avenue. Like many of the signals in use within Newark, the assembly at Park Place and South College Avenue is timed phase rather detector based. This means that the traffic lights cycle irregardless of traffic. The heart of the University of Delaware campus resides north of East Park Place. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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The easternmost traffic signal of Park Place governs the movements of East Park Place and Academy Street. Academy Street links Park Place with the University of Delaware campus and downtown Newark. Like College Avenue one block to the west, Academy Street is lined with facilities and halls of the university. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
| Paper Mill Road (Old Delaware 72)
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Paper Mill Road crosses the White Clay Creek and intersects Old Paper Mill Road. In 2001 a mast arm signal assembly saw installation for the intersection due to increased development and redevelopment of the mill area along the creek itself. As for Paper Mill Road itself, the two-lane highway increases in altitude through the lower reaches of the Appalachian Piedmont. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Approaching junction Delaware 92 (Possum Park Road) on Paper Mill Road northbound adjacent to the former DuPont, MBNA, and Bank of America Deerfield complex in north Newark. Several housing developments have claimed the hillside along northbound Paper Mill Road across from the former DuPont site. Unfortunately the increased traffic results in two traffic signals along the former Delaware 72 between Old Paper Mill Road and Delaware 72. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Paper Mill Road (old Delaware 72) northbound at Delaware 72 (Possum Park Road) and Thompson Station Road. Delaware 72 travels Paper Mill Road east of the intersection and Possum Park Road south of it. Thompson Station Road continue northward from Possum Park Road into the heart of White Clay Creek State Park. Photo taken 07/31/04. |
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Paper Mill Road (old Delaware 72) southbound at the signalized intersection with Winterthur Lane near the former DuPont Deerfield site northeast of Newark. Several subdivisions were added to the Old Paper Mill Road northbound side frontage in the late 1990s. Two signalized intersections were added due to the addition of these developments. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Descending into the city of Newark, Paper Mill Road meets Old Paper Mill Road at a set of mast-arm supported traffic lights. Old Paper Mill provides the only outlet from a large subdivision east of the new city reservoir and the Newark road network. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
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Paper Mill Road crosses White Clay Creek and enters a busy intersection with Cleveland Avenue and Margaret Street. Cleveland Avenue provides a popular short-cut between Delaware 2 & 72 (Kirkwood Highway) with Delaware 273 (West Main Street) and Hillside / Barksdale Road for Maryland-bound motorists. In the background is the CSX Railroad overpass. A second railroad line, connecting Newark with Avondale, Pennsylvania, used to cross this intersection at an angle. That line was decommissioned by 1980. Paper Mill Road becomes North Chapel Street south of Cleveland Avenue. Photo taken 05/15/05. |
| Miscellaneous Photos
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Wyoming Road was built in 1972 as a connector between South Chapel Street (old Delaware 72) and Library Avenue (new Delaware 72). The two-lane roadway was extended in 1999 eastward from Delaware 2 & 72 to Marrows Road in order to relieve Delaware 273 (Newark Christiana Road) between Library Avenue and Marrows Road to the north. Pictured here is the junction of Wyoming Road westbound at Delaware 2 & 72 (Library Avenue). Note that even the sign crews can't follow Delaware 2's convoluted routing south of town as the state route is omitted from the shield assembly. Photo taken 03/27/04. |
Sources:
1 - "Learning to be neighbors - Newark and the University of Delaware have experienced growing pains, but are working to forge a better partnership." The News Journal (DE), April 22, 2002.
Other Highway Sites
Page Updated October 25, 2007
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