Delaware Route 16

Delaware Route 16 marker

Delaware Route 16
Route information
Maintained by DelDOT
Length: 30.31 mi[1] (48.78 km)
Existed: 1936[2] – present
Major junctions
West end: MD 16 in Hickman
  DE 36 in Greenwood
US 13 in Greenwood
US 113 in Ellendale
DE 30 near Milton
DE 5 in Milton
DE 1 near Broadkill Beach
East end: Dead end in Broadkill Beach
Location
Counties: Kent, Sussex
Highway system
← DE 15DE 17 →

Delaware Route 16 (DE 16) is an east-west state highway in Delaware, mainly across northern Sussex County, with a small portion near the Maryland border in extreme southwestern Kent County. It runs from Maryland Route 16 (MD 16) at the Maryland border in Hickman to the Delaware Bay at Broadkill Beach. The route runs through rural areas, passing through the towns of Greenwood, Ellendale, and Milton. DE 16 intersects U.S. Route 13 (US 13) and DE 36 in Greenwood, US 113 in Ellendale, DE 30 and DE 5 in the Milton area, and DE 1 between Milton and Broadkill Beach. West of DE 1, the route serves as part of a connection between the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and the Delaware Beaches. DE 16 was built as a state highway during the 1920s and 1930s. By 1936, the route was designated onto its current alignment.

Route description

DE 16 westbound in Sussex County

DE 16 begins at the Maryland border in Hickman, Kent County, where the road continues west into that state as MD 16. From the state line, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Hickman Road, passing through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes. The road crosses into Sussex County and turns to the southeast. DE 16 comes to an intersection with DE 36, at which point it turns east to form a concurrency with that route. The road enters Greenwood and becomes Market Street, passing several homes along with a few businesses. The highway crosses Norfolk Southern's Delmarva Secondary railroad line before it intersects US 13 on the eastern edge of Greenwood. Past this intersection, DE 16/DE 36 leaves Greenwood and becomes Beach Highway, crossing the Nanticoke River.[3][4]

In Saint Johnstown, DE 36 splits from DE 16 by heading to the northeast on Shawnee Road. DE 16 continues east through agricultural areas and woods with some residences. Farther east, the road passes through Oakley. The route comes to an intersection with US 113 and enters Ellendale, where it becomes Main Street. In Ellendale, DE 16 runs past several homes, crossing Norfolk Southern's Indian River Secondary railroad line. The road leaves the town and becomes Milton-Ellendale Highway, turning southeast. The route heads through woodland and farms, running immediately to the north of a Delaware Coast Line Railroad line. DE 16 turns east away from the railroad tracks and comes to an intersection with DE 30. At this point, DE 5 Alternate (DE 5 Alt.), which runs south along DE 30, heads east along with DE 16. The road reaches Milton, where it passes homes and businesses. DE 16 comes to an intersection with DE 5, where DE 5 Alt. ends and the road name changes to Broadkill Road. The route leaves Milton and continues into farmland with a few residences, turning to the northeast. The road intersects DE 1 and runs through a mix of farms and woods with some homes. DE 16 turns east and northeast through marshland within the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge before reaching the community of Broadkill Beach, where it crosses Bay Shore Drive before ending at a dead end on the Delaware Bay.[3][4]

The portion of DE 16 west of DE 1 serves as part of a route connecting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area to the Delaware Beaches.[5] DE 16 has an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 9,886 vehicles at the eastern edge of Greenwood to a low of 1,815 vehicles at west end of the DE 36 concurrency.[1] None of DE 16 is part of the National Highway System.[6]

History

What is now DE 16 originally existed as a county road by 1920.[7] By 1924, the section of road in Greenwood was constructed as a state highway.[8] A year later, the route between the Dupont Highway and Ellendale became a state highway.[9] In 1929, the road was completed as a state highway between Ellendale and Milton.[10] A year later, the state highway was built between Owens and Ellendale.[11] The entire road west of Milton was finished as a state highway by 1931.[12] By 1936, DE 16 was designated to run from the Maryland border to Broadkill Beach along its current alignment.[2] The portion of route east of DE 14 (present-day DE 1) was paved by 1942.[13]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
KentHickman0.000.00 MD 16 west (Greenwood Road) – Denton, Bay BridgeMaryland state line, western terminus
SussexGreenwood7.0811.39 DE 36 west (Scotts Store Road) to DE 404West end of DE 36 overlap
8.5613.78 US 13 (Sussex Highway) – Harrington, Dover, Bridgeville, Seaford
Saint Johnstown9.0614.58 DE 36 east (Shawnee Road) – MilfordEast end of DE 36 overlap
Ellendale16.6226.75 US 113 (Dupont Boulevard) – Milford, Georgetown
Milton
DE 30 / DE 5 Alt. south (Issacs Road/Gravel Hill Road) – Milford, Gravel Hill, Oak Orchard		West end of DE 5 Alt. overlap
23.6938.13 DE 5 (Union Street/Union Street Extended) – Milton, Oak Orchard

DE 5 Alt. ends		East end of DE 5 Alt. overlap
​26.4142.50 DE 1 (Coastal Highway) – Milford, Rehoboth Beach, Beaches
Broadkill Beach30.3148.78Dead endEastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Staff (2011). "Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Interstate, Delaware, and US Routes" (PDF). Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Delaware State Highway Department; The National Survey Co. (1936). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map) (1936–37 ed.). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Delaware Department of Transportation (2008). Delaware Official Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Google (February 8, 2011). "overview of Delaware Route 16" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Directions to Rehoboth Beach, DE". Rehoboth.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ National Highway System: Delaware (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ Delaware State Highway Department (1920). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ Delaware State Highway Department (1924). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ Delaware State Highway Department (1925). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Annual Report of the State Highway Department" (PDF) (1929 ed.). Dover, Delaware: Delaware State Highway Department. December 31, 1929: 19. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Annual Report of the State Highway Department" (PDF) (1930 ed.). Dover, Delaware: Delaware State Highway Department. December 31, 1930: 19. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ Delaware State Highway Department (1931). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ Delaware State Highway Department (1942). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.

Route map: Bing / Google

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