Delaware Route 16

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.

Delaware Route 16
Route information
Maintained by DelDOT
Length30.31 mi[1] (48.78 km)
Existed1936[2]–present
Tourist
routes		 Delaware's Bayshore Byway
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 endDead end in Broadkill Beach
Location
CountiesKent, Sussex
Highway system
← DE 15→ DE 17

Route description
DE 16 westbound past DE 5 in Milton

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 Marshyhope Creek in the community of Adamsville and heads into Sussex County, curving 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 the town of Greenwood and becomes Market Street, passing several homes along with a few businesses. The highway crosses the Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line at-grade 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, the road becomes a divided highway and DE 36 splits from DE 16 by heading to the northeast on Shawnee Road. DE 16 soon becomes undivided again and continues east through agricultural areas and woods with some residences, crossing Toms Dam Branch and running through the community of Owens. Farther east, the road passes through the community of Oakley and crosses West Branch Gum Branch and then Gum Branch. The route comes to an intersection with US 113, where the name changes to Milton Ellendale Highway, and enters the town of Ellendale, where it becomes Main Street. In Ellendale, DE 16 runs past several homes, crossing the Delmarva Central Railroad's Indian River Subdivision line at-grade. The road leaves the town and becomes Milton Ellendale Highway again, turning southeast. The route heads through woodland and farms, running immediately to the north of the Delmarva Central Railroad's Milton Industrial Track 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 the town of 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 passes north of a golf course before it 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 crossing Broadkill Sound and reaching the community of Broadkill Beach. Here, the route intersects 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 also serves as part of a primary hurricane evacuation route from Broadkill Beach and the Delaware Beaches to points inland.[6] The section of the route between DE 30 near Milton and Broadkill Beach is designated as part of the Delaware's Bayshore Byway, a Delaware Byway.[7] DE 16 has an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 9,681 vehicles at the eastern edge of Greenwood to a low of 2,196 vehicles at west end of the DE 36 concurrency.[1] None of DE 16 is part of the National Highway System.[8]

History

What is now DE 16 originally existed as a county road by 1920.[9] By 1924, the section of road in Greenwood was constructed as a state highway.[10] A year later, the route between the Dupont Highway and Ellendale became a state highway.[11] In 1929, the road was completed as a state highway between Ellendale and Milton.[12] A year later, the state highway was built between Owens and Ellendale.[13] The entire road west of Milton was finished as a state highway by 1931.[14] 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.[15]

There are plans to construct an interchange with DE 1. The proposed interchange at DE 1 is in the semi-final design stage with construction planned to begin in 2021 and be completed in 2024.[16]

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 (Isaacs 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; northern terminus of DE 5 Alt.
​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
  •  U.S. Roads portal

References
  1. Staff (2018). "Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Interstate, Delaware, and US Routes" (PDF). Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  2. Delaware State Highway Department; The National Survey Co. (1936). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map) (1936–1937 ed.). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  3. Delaware Department of Transportation (2017). Official Travel & Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  4. Google (February 8, 2011). "overview of Delaware Route 16" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. "Town of Milton, Delaware, Comprehensive Plan - Transportation" (PDF). Town of Milton, Delaware. 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  6. Delmarva Peninsula Evacuation Route Map (PDF) (Map). Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  7. "Delaware's Bayshore Byway". Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. National Highway System: Delaware (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  9. Delaware State Highway Department (1920). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. Delaware State Highway Department (1924). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  11. Delaware State Highway Department (1925). Official Road Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  12. "Annual Report of the State Highway Department" (PDF) (1929 ed.). Dover, Delaware: Delaware State Highway Department. December 31, 1929: 19. Retrieved November 15, 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. "Annual Report of the State Highway Department" (PDF) (1930 ed.). Dover, Delaware: Delaware State Highway Department. December 31, 1930: 19. Retrieved November 17, 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. Delaware State Highway Department (1931). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  15. Delaware State Highway Department (1942). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  16. "HEP Sussex County, SR 1 and SR 16 Grade Separated Intersection". Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 9, 2019.

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