Multi State Route 54

SR 54 travels across southern Delaware, or along the Maryland state border, as part of a 46.1 mile long multi state route (MSR) with MD 54 from Mardela Springs to Fenwick Island. The rural route connects Delmar and Selbyville. It also provides one of two routes to the southern Delaware beaches and the north end of Ocean City, Maryland.

MD 54 begins at MD 313 (Sharptown Road) and Mardela Springs. The state route parallels Barren Creek east along Delmar Road for 3.25 miles to the southwestern corner of the First State. SR 54 (Delmar Road) shifts northward from there across open farm land to Packing House Corner and Susan Beach Corner, before angling back south to the state line at the town of Delmar.

SR 54 / MD 54 (State Street) overlays the state border east from milepost 9.51 through Downtown Delmar to Line Road at U.S. 13 (Sussex Highway). Maintenance along the route alternates between Delaware and Maryland to milepost 15.02 at Brittingham Road. Maryland takes over for the remainder of Line Road east to milepost 19.79 at SR 26 (Millsboro Highway) east and MD 353 (Gumboro Road) west.¹

Millsboro Highway leads SR 54 northeast alongside SR 26 to Cypress Road in the rural community of Gumboro. SR 54 (Cypress Road) splits with SR 26 for a winding course across Little Newfound Neck and Cypress Swamp.

Cypress Road takes SR 54 southeast into the town of Selbyville, where it turns east along Cemetery Road to intersect U.S. 113 (Dupont Boulevard). The state route follows Main Street south through the town center to Lighthouse Road east. SR 17 ties into SR 54 there from Bethany Road and Roxana to the north.

Lighthouse Road carries SR 54 east through suburban areas of Selbyville and open agricultural areas to Bunting and the community of Williamsville. SR 54 Alt branches northeast from this stretch to Ocean View and Bethany Beach.

SR 20 east combines with SR 54 (Lighthouse Road) east from Zion Church Road along an isthmus separating Montego Bay in Maryland with Little Assawoman Bay in Delaware. Construction along Lighthouse Road between September 2001 and August 2003 addressed flooding issues during high tides and severe storms near the Cape Windsor community. The $15.76 million project elevated SR 54 along a combination of new viaducts and fill. A 1,600 foot long span was built west of Cape Windsor, while an 800 foot long bridge was added for SR 54 to the east. The alignment of SR 54 was shifted slightly north, and a new traffic light was added at Mallard Lakes Road.² A previous proposal considered for the project was the implementation of tolls along the four mile segment.

MSR 54 was designated in 1969 in place of MD 467 in Wicomico County and SR 32 in Sussex County. Beyond the slight changes leading east into Fenwick Island, the alignment has not changed.

Delaware / Maryland Route 54 Guides

• East
• West

Delaware State Route 54 - 2015 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

• 1,937 - Maryland state line to Columbia Road (Road 76)
• 5,587 - west Delmar limits to 3rd Street
• 16,396 - U.S. 13 - Old Stage Road
• 3,791 - Maryland state line at mp 15.62 to SR 26
• 5,634 - MD 353 to SR 30
• 2,258 - SR 26/30 to Parker Road
• 1,185 - U.S. 113 to Main Street
• 6,944 - Church Street to SR 17
• 3,424 - southeast Selbyville limit to Hudson Road
• 6,762 - West Line Road to SR 1

scenes

A set of SR 54 shields direct motorists at the north end of Duke Avenue onto Lighthouse Road in Fenwick Island. Dukes Avenue links the state route with a residential area of Ocean City, Maryland. 01/16/17

Photo Credits:

01/16/17 by AARoads

Connect with:
U.S. 13
U.S. 50
U.S. 113
State Route 1
State Route 17
State Route 20
State Route 26
State Route 30
State Route 54 Alternate
Route 313
Route 353

Page Updated 01-30-2017.