Blue Ball Projects

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Map illustrating the reconfiguration of U.S. 202, SR 141, SR 261, Rockland Road, and Powder Mill Road.
U.S. 202 North (temporary alignment - now West Park Road)
Construction crews shifted the U.S. 202 mainline from Concord Pike onto a temporary six lane roadway on July 9, 2004. The realignment allowed crews to construct two new underpasses for U.S. 202 as part of the Blue Ball Project. Pictured here was the temporary roadway northbound and a reassurance shield for U.S. 202 posted after the intersection with Augustine Cutoff. 08/11/04
SR 261 overhead posted for the Weldin Road connection between U.S. 202 and Foulk Road (SR 261) when Foulk Road was closed south of Weldin Road. The sign was later used on U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) northbound at the off-ramp for SR 141 and 261. 08/11/04
Approaching the Weldin Road extension on the temporary U.S. 202 northbound. Weldin Road was extended west from SR 261 (Foulk Road) as part of the Blue Ball Project. The roadway linked U.S. 202 and SR 261 when Foulk Road south of Weldin Road was closed for construction. This connection was retained following completion of the project. 08/11/04
U.S. 202 North
Descending along the U.S. 202 northbound off-ramp to SR 141 and 261. SR 141 south initially travels northwest along SR 141 Spur to Childrens Drive before it turns west toward Alapocas Drive along Powder Mill Road. 12/23/06
SR 141 north transitions into SR 261 north at the junction with U.S. 202. Foulk Road carries SR 261 northeast through Brandywine Hundred as a four lane boulevard to Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 12/23/06
One of three signalized intersections created by the new junction between U.S. 202, SR 261 (Foulk Road), and SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) controls the left turn from U.S. 202 north onto Route 141 Spur north. 12/23/06
U.S. 202 northbound at Weldin Road by Independence Mall. Traffic to SR 261 (Foulk Road) was advised to turn right onto Weldin Road for a short drive to a traffic light at Foulk Road. U.S. 202 rejoined its original six lane alignment just north of Weldin Road. All in all, the $130 million Blue Ball roads-and-parklands project was slated for completion by 2007, and it did occur on May 30, 2007. 08/11/04
U.S. 202 South
Departing U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) southbound on the SR 141 & 261 off-ramp. SR 261 north begins where SR 141 north ends at the Foulk Road intersection with Weldin Road. 05/19/07
The southbound off-ramp expands to three lanes to accommodate SR 261 north, SR 141 south, and West Park Drive south to Augustine Cut-off. SR 141 south travels northwest around the Astra-Zenica campus to Childrens Drive and Powder Mill Road. 05/19/07
Traffic signals located at the U.S. 202 southbound ramp end at SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) and West Park Drive. West Park Drive travels south parallel to U.S. 202, meeting Rockland Road and East Park Drive before ending at Augustine Cut-off. Rockland Road parallels SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) northwest to the Alfred DuPont Hospital for Children. 05/19/07
Delaware State Route 141 North
Leaving the signalized intersection with Childrens Drive and Powder Mill Road on SR 141 north (Route 141 Spur). The state route actually travels southeast at this point, looping around the Astra-Zenica campus to the junction with U.S. 202 and SR 261 (Foulk Road). 12/23/06
A signalized intersection was added along SR 141 Spur to service an additional entrance to the Astra-Zenica campus. The signal is fully operational, even when the gate is closed. 12/29/07
A second reassurance shield appeared nearby along SR 141 north (Route 141 Spur south). Interstate 95 and U.S. 202 trailblazers were added to the assembly by late 2007. 12/29/07
A new sign bridge was posted along SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) north for the approaching junction with U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and transition to Foulk Road. 12/29/07
SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) north at the intersection with West Park Drive. West Park Drive travels south to Rockland Road, East Park Drive and Augustine Cut-off parallel to U.S. 202 south. East Park Drive loops underneath U.S. 202 between West Park Drive and Caruthers Lane. 12/23/06
Traffic interests to U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) depart SR 141 north via an off-ramp adjacent to the West Park Drive intersection. A second traffic light operates on the overpass above to allow motorists access onto U.S. 202 north. 12/29/07
Taking the off-ramp from SR 141 Spur south to Concord Pike. U.S. 202 south continues a short distance to Augustine Cut-off and its merge onto Interstate 95 south. Northbound Concord Pike heads to Independence Mall shopping center and the Astra-Zenica campus. 12/23/06
An overpass with a stone facade carries U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) over SR 141 (Route 141 Spur), adding to the rustic nature of the area parks. 12/23/06
A third traffic light was added along SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) at the U.S. 202 northbound off-ramp. Route 141 Spur transitions into Foulk Road at this point. 12/23/06
A pair of end shields for SR 141 stand ahead of the Foulk Road intersection with Weldin Road. 12/23/06
SR 261 takes over from here and continues northward along Foulk Road toward Arden and the Pennsylvania state line. 12/23/06
Weldin Road west ties into U.S. 202 north at Independence Mall; eastbound provides connections with Rockwood and Shipley Roads north out of Wilmington. 12/23/06
Delaware State Route 141 South
Shortly after leaving the intersection with Weldin Road, SR 141 (Foulk Road) south splits with the off-ramp to U.S. 202 (Concord Pike). Motorists destined for U.S. 202 south to Interstate 95 and the city of Wilmington depart here as SR 141 south descends below Concord Pike. 05/19/07
Southbound at the aforementioned ramp adjacent to the Concord Pike overpass. A stone facade on the bridge blends the span into the adjacent park surroundings. 05/19/07
SR 141 south transitions from Foulk Road onto Route 141 Spur and quickly intersects West Park Road and the southbound off-ramp from U.S. 202 (Concord Pike). West Park Road travels south to Rockland Road north, East Park Road east and Augustine Cut-off south respectively. 12/23/06
Heading northwest along SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) south. Route 141 Spur consists of a four lane divided arterial between U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and the intersection with Childrens Drive and Powder Mill Road. 12/23/06
Childrens Drive originally curved northward from Rockland Road to meet SR 141 (Powder Mill Road) at a T intersection. The roadway was realigned along with Powder Mill Road to come together at a new intersection with Route 141 Spur. Upon completion of the spur, Powder Mill Road east to U.S. 202 became an unnumbered roadway. 05/19/07
Delaware State Route 261 North
SR 261 (Foulk Road) leaves SR 141 and Weldin Road on its northward drive toward Arden and Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Foulk Road carries four overall lanes between SR 141 and SR 92 (Naamans Road). 12/23/06
Delaware State Route 261 South
SR 261 end shield posted ahead of the intersection with Weldin Road and transition into SR 141 south. 12/23/06
Interests to U.S. 202 were dispersed between Weldin Road for northbound and SR 141 north for southbound. 12/23/06
SR 261 ends and SR 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 SR 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 SR 3 (Marsh Road) and north Wilmington. 12/23/06
Powder Mill Road (former SR 141) - East
Powder Mill Road (former SR 141) eastbound pass by the Astra-Zenica Pharmaceuticals campus between the intersection with Childrens Drive and the junction with U.S. 202 at Murphy Road. An overpass over Powder Mill Road links the northern and southern portions of the campus, which was constructed after Astra-Zenica moved to Delaware in 2000. 04/26/04
U.S. 202 shield on Powder Mill Road eastbound at Fairfax. The intersection ahead was redesigned in 1999 to coincide with the Blue Ball Project through the Astra-Zenica campus area. 04/26/04
An erroneous SR 202 shield was posted for Concord Pike southbound and Wilmington on SR 141 north at Murphy Road. 04/26/04
Replacement U.S. 202 shields erected during the latter stages of reconstruction along Powder Mill Road at Concord Pike. 05/19/07
Original end shield for SR 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 SR 141 through Fairfax to SR 261 (Foulk Road) and Wilson Road. 04/26/04
Powder Mill Road (former SR 141) - West
What was the first southbound reassurance shield of SR 141 on Powder Mill Road west of U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and Murphy Road. SR 141 saw reconstruction between Concord Pike and Rockland Road in the late 1990s. The road work resulted in a slightly realigned segment of Powder Mill Road between U.S. 202 and the new Childrens Lane. That configuration was again relocated in 2005-06. 04/26/04
Delaware lured the Astra-Zenica pharmaceutical giant to the state of Delaware in 1999. The company decided on a site at U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and then-SR 141 (Powder Mill Road) for its headquarters. Coinciding with the construction of the new 2,000-employee campus was the addition of an overpass across Powder Mill Road to link the north and southern portions of the facility. 04/26/04
Approaching the intersection with SR 141 (Route 141 Spur) and Childrens Drive on Powder Mill Road west. The original Powder Mill Road curve pictured here was removed and Powder Mill Road was relocated to meet the relocated Childrens Drive at a new intersection with Route 141 Spur. 12/23/06
SR 141 originally curved westward and met Childrens Drive before it passed over Rockland Road. Now SR 141 follows Route 141 Spur northwest from U.S. 202 and Foulk Road to Powder Mill Road at Childrens Drive. Childrens Drive otherwise acts as a connector between SR 141 and Rockland Road at the Alfred DuPont Hospital for Children. Rockland Road continues northward to Mt. Lebanon Road. 12/23/06
Childrens Drive
Childrens Drive eastbound at the intersection with SR 141 (Powder Mill Road / Route 141 Spur). 12/23/06
Powder Mill Road extends east from Childrens Drive as a four lane divided arterial to U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) at Murphy Road. SR 141 south follows Powder Mill Road west to the Tyler McConnell Bridge while north travels Route 141 Spur south to U.S. 202 and SR 261 (Foulk Road). 12/23/06
Weldin Road
Weldin Road was extended from its end at SR 261 (Foulk Road) to U.S. 202 in 2004 during the Blue Ball Projects. The road remains open as an alternate connector between U.S. 202 north and SR 261 (Foulk Road) north. 05/19/07
Weldin Road eastbound at the joint terminus of SR 261 south and SR 141 north. Weldin Road east advances from here to East Park Drive, Rockwood Road and its end at Shipley Road. 05/19/07
A traffic signal originally allowed motorists to turn left onto U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) south at the west end of Weldin Road. Once the interchange with Foulk Road was opened, that movement was eliminated and Weldin Road defaults onto U.S. 202 north. 12/23/06
East Park Road
East Park Road leaves a roundabout with West Park Road and passes underneath U.S. 202 with no access. A stone facade adorns the Concord Pike span, blending the bridge into its park surroundings. 05/19/07
East Park Road intersects Caruthers Lane south before turning north to end at the roundabout with Weldin Road. 05/19/07
Weldin Road west heads to SR 141 and 261; east continues on its original alignment to Rockwood Road north of Wilmington. 05/19/07
West Park Road
West Park Drive extends north to connect Augustine Cutoff with the Blue Ball Dairy Barn, Rockland Road, SR 141 south and SR 261 (Foulk Road) north. 09/27/14
West Park Drive ends just north of Rockland Road opposite the southbound off-ramp from U.S. 202. An adjacent ramp ascends to both directions of U.S. 202 while SR 141 meanders west to the Tyler McConnell Bridge into Greenville. 09/27/14



Photo Credits:

04/26/04, 08/11/04, 12/23/06, 05/19/07, 12/29/07, 09/27/14 by AARoads

Page Updated 12-07-2015.

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