U.S. 13 Business was commissioned in 1970 over the former mainline of U.S. 13 through Wilmington and Claymont in northern New Castle County. The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved the renumbering on November 6, while approving the reroute of U.S. 13 over what was U.S. 13 Alternate to the east. Prior to the renumbering through Wilmington, U.S. 13 north followed Walnut Street north and 16th Street west. This alignment doubled as U.S. 202 north, which combined with U.S. 13 from State Road to Concord Avenue in north Wilmington. U.S. 13 south used Market Street south from 16th Street to 14th Street east. French Street carried the route south to 2nd Street, which returned U.S. 13 west two blocks to Market Street south. U.S. 202 south overlapped with U.S. 13 south from Front Street. French Street no longer exists between East 2nd and East 8th Streets.
U.S. 13 Business begins at Rogers Corner and the confluence of I-495, Rogers Road, Market Street and Heald Street. Heald Street leads U.S. 13 northeast to Southbridge in Wilmington while U.S. 13 Business lines South Market Street to Garasches Lane and the Wilmington city line. North from there, U.S. 13 partitions into a one-way couplet using Walnut Street north and Market Street south. Both streets span the Christina River along double-leaf bascule bridges.
U.S. 13 Business north remains wholly along Walnut Street from the Christina River through the Wilmington central business district and East 16th Street. U.S. 13 Business south meanwhile follows King Street from East 16th Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard (SR 48) west and Market Street south by the Wilmington Train Station. The couplet recombines with U.S. 13 Business turning west two blocks on 16th Street to King Street at the Market Street Bridge across Brandywine Creek.
Market Street angles U.S. 13 Business northeast through Brandywine Village and the Eastlawn communities in north Wilmington. The route narrows to just two lanes to Lea Boulevard and the Wilmington city line. North from there, U.S. 13 Business expands into a four-lane boulevard (Philadelphia Pike) by the town of Bellefonte, Holly Oak and Claymont. U.S. 13 overtakes Philadelphia Pike from Governor Printz Boulevard just ahead of the interchange with Interstate 495.
U.S. 13 Business Guides
U.S. 13 Business Mileage: 8.19
U.S. 13 Business Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
- 30,081 - A Street to Front Street (Wilmington)
- 22,747 - 2nd Street to SR 9 / 4th Street (Wilmington)
- 22,025 - SR 9 / 4th Street to 9th Street (Wilmington)
- 24,256 - 9th Street to 16th Street (Wilmington)
- 12.888 - 18th Street to SR 202 / Concord Avenue (Wilmington)
- 8,079 - SR 3 south / Edgemoor Road to Marsh Road
- 9,644 - Marsh Road to SR 3 north / Washington Street Extension
- 14,032 - Silverside Road / Walnut Lane to U.S. 13 / Governor Printz Boulevard
Source: Delaware Vehicle Volume Summary 2014 (Traffic Summary)
 scenes |
 | Westward view at the Market Street Bridge over the Christina River from the Leo J. Dugan Bridge on Walnut Street (U.S. 13 Business northbound). Condominium high rises line the south banks of the river in this scene now. 03/30/04 |
 | A river walk and park were constructed along the Christina River between Walnut Street and Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in the early 2000s. Beyond the Riverfront area is the Interstate 95 viaduct and the Browntown section of the city. 03/30/04 |
 | Rosa Parks Drive west at U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) south by the Wilmington Train Station. 12/20/16 |
 | French Street north at U.S. 13 Business (16th Street) north. Historically, French Street carried U.S. 13 southbound between 14th and Front Streets. 08/03/13 |
  | Looking east at the North Market Street Bridge from the Park Drive walk along the Brandywine Creek in Wilmington. Built in 1928, the crossing spans the rocky creek between Downtown and Brandywine Village. The bridge was repainted in the late 1990s. 03/30/04 |
 | Opened in 2000, Cauffiel Parkway provides a connection between U.S. 13 (Governor Printz Boulevard) and U.S. 13 Business (Philadelphia Pike) north of Bellefonte. The road winds through a tract of Bellevue State Park. 08/18/05 |
 | A signalized intersection joins the west end of Cauffiel Parkway with Philadelphia Pike at Bellevue Parkway. 08/18/05 |
 | Silverside Road winds east from U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and Talleyville through the Brandywine Hundred community to end at U.S. 13 Business (Philadelphia Pike) south of Claymont. 04/10/04 |
Photo Credits:
03/30/04, 04/10/04, 08/18/05, 08/03/13, 12/20/16 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 495
U.S. 13
State Route 3
State Route 9
State Route 48
State Route 52
State Route 202
Page Updated 03-03-2021.