BUSINESS

Wilmington - Northbound

U.S. 13 Business constitutes the original routing of U.S. 13 through Wilmington. It was commissioned at the same time Alternate U.S. 13 was decommissioned. Beginning from the south at I-495 where U.S. 13 splits to the east to Edgemoor, Business U.S. 13 follows South Market Street crossing the Christiana River on a drawbridge. From here it splits near DE 48 by the Amtrak station at the developing river front park district. Northbound follows Walnut St. while southbound follows King St. Business U.S. 13 cuts right through the heart of the business district of Wilmington. At the Brandywine Creek north and southbound merge back together and follow Market St. through northeastern Wilmington. North of the city limits Business U.S. 13 widens to 4 lanes and is known as Philadelphia Pike en route to the Northern terminus with U.S. 13, just south of I-495.

U.S. 13 Business Northbound - Wilmington
		Traveling northbound on U.S. 13 Business (Walnut Street) in the South Bridge neighborhood of Wilmington. U.S. 13 Business splits between the one-way street couplet of Walnut Street (northbound) and Market Street (southbound) between the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge and Front Street in the central business district of the city. Pictured here is the first of two sign bridges advising motorists of the upcoming junction with Delaware 48 west (2nd Street). New high rises appear south of the Christina River as part of Wilmington's Riverfront redevelopment. Photos taken 03/19/04 & 05/19/07.
			Walnut Street carries four lanes of travel northward through South Bridge to the Leo J. Dugan Bridge over the Christina River. The left-hand lane of Walnut Street defaults onto the westbound beginning of Delaware 48 one block north of the river and Front Street. Note the sign replacements in the second photo and closer look at the new high rises west of Walnut Street. Photos taken 03/19/04 & 05/19/07.
		The only intersection of consequence in the South Bridge section of the city for U.S. 13 Business is that with A Street. The east-west arterial connects Market Street with U.S. 13 & Delaware 9 (Heald Street & New Castle Avenue) one half mile to the east. The junction exists just south of the river crossing. Note the new development on the northwest corner of the intersection between 2004 and 2007. Photos taken 03/19/04 & 05/19/07.
	Four lanes of U.S. 13 Business cross the Christina River via the Leo J. Dugan Bridge in south Wilmington. The crossing features a draw span and sidewalks on both sides of the northbound roadway. Photo taken 03/30/04.

	Traversing the draw span portion of the Leo J. Dugan Bridge on U.S. 13 Business northbound. Constructed in 1954, the Dugan Bridge was named after the Delaware Legislator and civic leader who passed away in 1964. Beyond the Amtrak Railroad crossing in the background are a pair of high rises for two of the many banks incorporated in Wilmington, Delaware. Photo taken 03/19/04.
	The riverfront of Wilmington has undergone several changes since 1993. It all started with the construction of Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, home of the Class A Wilmington Blue Rocks (a Kansas City Royals affiliate), in 1992 and 1993. Urban renewal has followed with the construction of the Riverfront Arts Center, the Christina River Walk, the night club Kahunaville, and other area outlets, shops, and businesses. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	The aforementioned sign bridges forewarned motorists of the four lane split at the Amtrak Railroad overcrossing. The left-hand lane turns onto 2nd Street (Delaware 48) beyond the crossing. The secondhand lane allows drivers to use either Delaware 48 west or Walnut Street north. The right-hand lanes continue U.S. 13 Business northward into the central business district. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	U.S. 13 Business (Walnut Street) intersects Front Street (Delaware 48 east) at the Amtrak Wilmington Train Station. Riders can use Amtrak to travel all across the country or ride the SEPTA (Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority) regional rail (R2 Line) northward into Philadelphia from the station. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Interstate 95 trailblazer posted between Front and Second Streets on Walnut Street northbound. Delaware 48 intersects the westbound beginning of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in two blocks. From there the boulevard bisects the block between Front and Second Streets to provide a direct ramp connection with the north-south freeway. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	U.S. 13 Business (Walnut Street) northbound at the westbound beginning of Delaware 48 (Second Street). Traffic from Delaware 48 eastbound (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) merges onto Walnut Street at the same intersection. U.S. 13 Business northbound reduces to three overall lanes at Second Street. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Several of the U.S. 13 Business reassurance shields in the city of Wilmington lack a Business banner. The first assembly in the central business district on Walnut Street resides between Second and Third Streets. U.S. 13 Business overtook the U.S. 13 mainline in the late 1970s. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Approaching the intersection with Third Street on U.S. 13 Business (Walnut Street) northbound. Posted here is a shield assembly for the Fourth Street intersection with Delaware 9. Delaware 9 travels Fourth Street eastward from Union Street (Delaware 2 westbound) to the Christina River Bridge and the U.S. 13 mainline (Spruce and Church Streets). The shield assembly here neglects to mention that Delaware 9 southbound is to the right and also omits the Business banner for U.S. 13. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	The intersection of Walnut and Fourth Streets in downtown Wilmington. Two lanes from the left segregate Delaware 48 east (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) traffic from U.S. 13 Business between Second and Fourth Streets. The dual carriageway configuration of Walnut Street however ends just north of Delaware 9. To the left is the 2001 completed New Castle County Courthouse building. Delaware 9 provides one of two arterials between the Hill Top neighborhood of the city and downtown. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Walnut Street incurs the Delaware 48 traffic between Delaware 9 and Fifth Street. Four lanes quickly reduce to three however just north of the Fourth Street traffic light. A third U.S. 13 reassurance marker is posted without its corresponding business banner. Fifth Street itself is discontinuous between King Street (U.S. 13 Business southbound) and Walnut Street due to the construction of the New Castle County Courthouse building. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	A pedestrian signal resides on the stretch between Fifth and Seventh Streets. Portions of the MBNA downtown banking complex comes into view on Walnut Street. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	U.S. 13 Business northbound at Eighth Street in downtown Wilmington. The heart of the business district resides between the blocks of Eighth and Twelfth Street between Walnut and Orange Streets. Most of the signals in the central business district are mounted on mast arm assemblies. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	More of the downtown MBNA complex draws into view at the intersection of Walnut and Ninth Streets. Ninth Street provides access to downtown Wilmington from Interstate 95 northbound. To the east the one-way street intersects U.S. 13 (Spruce and Church Street) in seven and nine blocks respectively. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Part of the aforementioned renaissance of the city features the installation of decorative light posts and traffic signal mast arms. Featured at the 10th Street intersection is an example of the black painted assemblies. Tenth Street brings traffic into downtown from the East Side neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	An older set of mast arm traffic light assemblies remain at the U.S. 13 Business northbound intersection with 11th Street. 11th Street carries Delaware 52 southbound between Jefferson Street and Walnut Street through downtown. The multi state route ends at the pictured intersection. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	One block north of the Delaware 52 southern terminus is the Delaware 52 northbound beginning. A trailblazer exists for Delaware 52 on the block between 11th and 12th Streets for the north-south route. The one-way couplet of the state highway merges to form Delaware Avenue at Jefferson Street north of downtown. From there Delaware Avenue crosses over Interstate 95 and splits from Pennsylvania Avenue at Van Buren Street. Delaware 52 continues northward along Pennsylvania Avenue into the Hill Top neighborhood of the city before departing Wilmington for Greenville and Centreville. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	U.S. 13 Business departs the financial district of the city for residential areas north of Delaware 52. Walnut Street reduces to two overall lanes north of 12th Street and intersects 13th Street at the depicted intersection. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	A set of 1960s 30" Eagle signals remain in use at the Walnut Street intersection with 14th Street. Row homes dominate the neighborhood landscape of Walnut Street and 14th Street near the Brandywine Creek. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Walnut Street comes to an end at 16th Street adjacent to the Brandywine Creek. U.S. 13 Business turns northward onto the one-way street for two blocks parallel to the waterway. South of Walnut Street, 16th Street carries two-way traffic to the Pine Street bridge over the Brandywine into the East Lawn neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	French Street bisects U.S. 13 Business between King and Walnut Streets northward from 8th Street to Sixteenth Street. The north-south two-lane boulevard ends at U.S. 13 Business northbound and the Brandywine Creek. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	Span wire supported signs for the U.S. 13 Business northbound turn onto Market Street posted beyond the French Street intersection. The worn signs remain from when the U.S. 13 mainline traveled through the heart of the city. Note also that 16th Street transitions into the scenic Park Drive north of Market Street (U.S. 13 Business southbound). Photo taken 06/00.
	U.S. 13 Business northbound turns north onto the Market Street Bridge to cross the Brandywine Creek. Both directions of U.S. 13 Business utilize Market Street through the East Lawn neighborhood of the city between the river and the Wilmington city line. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	A five point intersection exists at the north end of the Market Street Bridge with 18th Street, Glen Avenue, and Race Street. The signalized intersection represents the north end of the four-lane U.S. 13 Business as Market Street narrows to two overall lanes northward. Photo taken 03/30/04.
	U.S. 202 trailblazer posted at the U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) intersection with Concord Avenue (Delaware 202). U.S. 202 used to travel through the heart of the city with U.S. 13 to Concord Avenue. However by the 1980s the federal highway saw relocation to an overlap with Interstate 95 between Exits 8 and 5A. Delaware 202 overtook the Concord Avenue alignment between Market Street and Interstate 95. The signalized intersection composes the southern terminus of the state route. Photo taken 10/12/01.
	Two blocks north of Delaware 202 (Concord Avenue) & Vandever Avenue at the intersection of 23rd Street. Unfortunately some of the highest crime rates found within the city of Wilmington exist on the numbered streets between Vandever Avenue and 30th Street. Photo taken 08/07/04.
	U.S. 13 Business reassurance shield posted on Market Street northbound between 23rd and 24th Streets in the East Lawn neighborhood of Wilmington. Most of the existing reassurance shields for U.S. 13 Business include a redundant straight arrow and omit the cardinal direction. Photo taken 08/07/04.

Just about every numbered street to intersect U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) through the East Lawn section of the city is signalized. Many of the traffic lights are 30" Eagle brand signals posted at ground level. This suite of photographs displays the Market Street northbound intersections at 24th, 25th, and 26th Streets. Photos taken 08/07/04.
U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) northbound at 35th and 36th Streets in northeast Wilmington. The residential frontage gives way to commercial establishments as Market Street nears the city line. Note the U.S. 13 banner less mainline shield posted between 35th and 36th Street. Photos taken 08/07/04.

	The intersection of Market Street and 38th Street is unusual in that 38th Street flows one-way from both directions into U.S. 13 Business. Therefore no turns are permitted from Market Street onto 38th Street in either direction. Photo taken 08/07/04.
	Span wire supported signals at the intersection of U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) and Lea Boulevard. Lea Boulevard composes the northeastern extent of the Wilmington city limits between Northeast Boulevard (U.S. 13) and Miller Road. Ahead U.S. 13 transitions into the four-lane Philadelphia Pike on the ascent next to Sellers Park. Photo taken 08/07/04.
	U.S. 13 Business ascends out of the city of Wilmington on the Philadelphia Pike northbound at Sellers Park. A Delaware 3 shield is posted at the Turkey Run overcrossing for the upcoming intersection with Edgemoor and Shipley Roads. Delaware 3 travels Edgemoor Road northward from Interstate 95 and U.S. 13 to Philadelphia Pike. Photo taken 04/09/04.
	Continuing the ascent from Wilmington on the four-lane Philadelphia Pike. Delaware 3 joins the federal highway between Edgemoor Road and the Washington Street Extension ahead. The state highway used to travel Marsh Road northward from Edgemoor Road without the U.S. 13 Business overlap. However around 1990 DelDOT relocated the Delaware 3 path to bypass residential areas of Marsh Road between Washington Street and Edgemoor Road. Photo taken 04/09/04.
	U.S. 13 Business (Philadelphia Pike) northbound at the north end of Edgemoor Road (Delaware 3) and south end of Shipley Road. Edgemoor Road carries Delaware 3 northward from Hay Road, Interstate 495 (Exit 4), U.S. 13 (Governor Printz Boulevard) and Marsh Road to Philadelphia Pike. Shipley Road travels north from here through Rockwood Park to Washington Street Extension, Weldin Road, and Delaware 261 (Foulk Road) in the Brandywine Hundred communities. Photo taken 08/07/04.
	U.S. 13 Business & Delaware 3 northbound at the five point intersection with Marsh Road and Lore Avenue. A Delaware 3 shield points northward to Philadelphia Pike indicating that the state route no longer follows Marsh Road through here. Out of view is Lore Avenue to the right. The surface street links U.S. 13 Business & Delaware 3 with the incorporated village of Bellefonte (pop. 1,249). Marsh Road intersects the Exit 9 interchange of Interstate 95 one mile to the north. Photo taken 04/09/04.
	Delaware 3 northbound departs Philadelphia Pike for the Washington Street Extension southbound. The four-lane arterial extends northward from the city of Wilmington and Washington Street to Rockwood and Bringhurst Woods Park. The roadway carries Delaware 3 from Marsh Road to U.S. 13 Business. Historically the Washington Street Extension was a part of Delaware 4 according to 1960s and 70s road maps. Photo taken 04/09/04.
	Rolling hills set the tone for U.S. 13 Business and the Philadelphia Pike between Wilmington and the community of Claymont. Pictured here is a northbound reassurance shield for the stretch between Cauffiel Parkway and Silverside Road. Cauffiel Parkway provides a direct link with the nearby U.S. 13 mainline (Governor Printz Boulevard) to the east. Photo taken 04/09/04.
	U.S. 13 Business northbound at the east end of Silverside Road. Silverside Road provides a main thoroughfare through the Brandywine Hundred area of northeast Delaware between Philadelphia Pike and U.S. 202 (Concord Pike). Photo taken 08/18/05.
	The next northbound traffic light exists at the Philadelphia Pike intersection with Holly Oak Road. Holly Oak Road travels west to an apartment complex and Gwinhurst Park. Eastward, Holly Oak Road descends to U.S. 13 (Governor Printz Boulevard). Photo taken 08/18/05.
	Descending from the Holly Oak signalized intersection on U.S. 13 Business northbound. Philadelphia Pike varies between four and five lanes through the older suburbs of north Wilmington. Photo taken 03/20/04.
	Another traffic light governs the movements of U.S. 13 Business (Philadelphia Pike) at Maple Road. Maple Road stems west into residential areas at Perkins Run Park. Photo taken 08/18/05.
	Northbound at the east end of Harvey Road near Claymont. Harvey Road constitutes an east-west arterial between U.S. 13 Business and the Exit 10 half diamond interchange of Interstate 95. West of there the road narrows and passes through the incorporated villages of Arden (pop. 474), Ardentown (pop. 300), and Ardencroft (pop. 267). Photo taken 04/10/04.

		U.S. 13 reclaims U.S. 13 Business and overtakes the routing along the Philadelphia Pike at the north end of Governor Printz Boulevard. An end shield resides at the Claymont intersection. The series C Highway Gothic font end shield for U.S. 13 depicted first was replaced with a series D based shield between 2000 and 2004. See the U.S. 13 northbound photo guide for additional Philadelphia Pike coverage. First photo taken 03/00; second photo taken 04/10/04.
Scenes related to U.S. 13 Business Northbound - Wilmington
		Two views of the North Market Street Bridge from the Park Drive walk along the Brandywine Creek north of U.S. 13 Business. The 1928 span traverses the rocky creek between the central business district and the East Lawn sections of the city. DelDOT repainted the bridge in the late 1990s. Photos taken 03/30/04.
		Cauffiel Parkway, opened in 2000, provides a connector between U.S. 13 (Governor Printz Boulevard) and U.S. 13 Business (Philadelphia Pike) north of Washington Street Extension (Delaware 3) and south of Silverside Road. The road passes through parkland (associated with Bellevue State Park) between the two four-lane roadways and is the DelDOT preferred route between the two in lieu of local streets such as Bellevue Road and Sunset Drive. These photos look at Cauffiel Parkway westbound on the approach and intersection with Philadelphia Pike at Bellevue Parkway. Photos taken 08/18/05.

Page Updated October 31, 2007.