U.S. 202 commences an eight state route to Bangor, Maine from Basins Corner in New Castle County, Delaware. The US highway overlaps with SR 141 (Basin Road) north to Interstate 95, and along I-95 northeast through Wilmington to Concord Pike. These alignments are almost exclusively signed as just SR 141 or I-95, with U.S. 202 generally omitted. The remainder of the route north to Pennsylvania is well traveled both as a commuter and through route to West Chester.
U.S. 202 Delaware Guides
The stretch of U.S. 202/SR 141 along Basin Road consists of a four lane, divided arterial between U.S. 13/40 (Dupont Highway) and I-95/295. A 2003-2004 construction project involved safety and cosmetic improvements to the aging concrete roadway. Additionally the cloverleaf interchange at the Dupont Highway was modified to eliminate the loop ramp from Basin Road north onto Dupont Highway south, which previously utilized Delaware and Washington Avenues, two residential streets. The connection is now made via a U-turn at Washington Avenue for the southbound entrance ramp.
The three quarter cloverleaf interchange between U.S. 13, U.S. 40 and U.S. 202 is marked as Exits 1 A/B from SR 141. The numbering convention is derived from the Newport Freeway section of SR 141 further the north. In 2001 the missing end sign for U.S. 202 was replaced.
Interstate 95 takes U.S. 202 northeast from the cloverleaf interchange with Basin Road through the city of Wilmington to Concord Avenue. The busy directional cloverleaf interchange joins the freeway with the four to six lane arterial just beyond the Wilmington city line. Construction in 1999 expanded the southbound ramp that carries U.S. 202 onto I-95 from one to two lanes. This work was later overshadowed by a major overhaul to the exchange between September 2011 and November 2014 as part of the Blue Ball Projects.
Blue Ball Projects
The Blue Ball Projects involved several aspects along U.S. 202, SR 141, SR 261 and other roads between Interstate 95 and Independence Mall at Blue Ball. The project added new overpasses for Concord Pike over realignments to both SR 141 and SR 261 (Foulk Road), while adding park land and new access roads. Initial planning commenced on the project in 1999.
Previously SR 261 and Rockland Road intersected U.S. 202 at a traffic signal north of the intersection with Augustine Cut-off. This changed on July 9, 2004 when motorists along U.S. 202 were relocated onto a temporary roadway west of the project area for a 16 month period. This roadway would later be incorporated into West Park Road, a connector between new SR 141 and Augustine Cut-off. Reopening of the U.S. 202 mainline occurred by December of 2005, when traffic shifted onto the newly constructed overpasses. New spans feature a rock motif to compliment the adjacent parkland. Traffic lights otherwise join the connecting ramps between U.S. 202 and SR 141/261.
Completed in 2007, the Blue Ball Projects construction phase involving SR 141 shifted the state route from Powder Mill Road onto a new alignment between Childrens Drive and U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) at Foulk Road (SR 261). A second connector road was also built to link Augustine Cutoff, south of SR 141, with Weldin Road. Named East Park Road, the access road passes under U.S. 202 between a roundabout with West Park Drive and Porter Reservoir. Additionally a Delaware Greeneway was added along West Park Drive between Augustine Cutoff and Rockland Road.
The final phase of the Blue Ball construction project was the reconfiguration of the interchange between Interstate 95 and U.S. 202 north of Wilmington. Work rebuilt the northbound entrance ramp from I-95 onto Concord Pike to two overall lanes. The southbound loop ramp from Interstate 95 onto SR 202 (Concord Avenue) was removed to accommodate a new wider and smoother ramp from Concord Pike south onto I-95 south. Also a new ramp and left turn takes motorists from I-95 south onto SR 202 in place of the former loop ramp.
Initial work on the interchange reconfiguration began in Winter 2007. The $33 million project was officially completed on August 7, 2015.1 See the Blue Ball guide for more photos covering the completed road aspects of the project.
U.S. 202 History
The southern leg of U.S. 202 between Wilmington, Delaware and Raritan, New Jersey was initially designated as U.S. 122 starting in 1926. U.S. 122 was outlined as running north from State Road through Wilmington and along the Concord Turnpike north into southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) approved a 671 mile route for U.S. 202 between Bangor, Maine and State Road, Delaware in June 1934.2 The new route incorporated what was assigned to U.S. 122 between Delaware and North Jersey. U.S. 122 was then assigned in place of U.S. 120, between Oxford and Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania. (The second version of U.S. 122 was eventually decommissioned in 1963.)
The original south end of U.S. 202 was located opposite of the north end of U.S. 301 at State Road where U.S. 13/40 split. U.S. 13/40/202 overlaped southwest from Farnhurst to State Road along Dupont Highway. Separate applications submitted to AASHO from the Delaware State Highway Department outlined both the deletion of U.S. 202 from State Road northeast to Interstate 295 at Farnhurst and the northward extension of U.S. 301 along the same stretch. Both were approved by on June 3, 1964.2 The applications cited Resolution 2156 from the Meeting of the State Highway Department on February 5, 1964:
WHERAS, the Delaware State Highway Department has initiated and completed traffic studies concerning the location of the terminals of U.S. Routes 202 and 301.
WHERAS, the studies show that the common terminal of these two U.S. Routes should be moved from State Road to Farnhurst in order to terminate each route at an interchange on a major traffic corridor, Interstate Route 295.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Department approve the extension of U.S. 301 from State Road to Farnhurst and the curtailment of U.S. Route 202 from State Road to Farnhurst subject to the approval of the Route Numbering commitee of the American Association of State Highway Officials.
Furthermore the application for the elimination of U.S. 202 explanation for the request read:
The deletion of U.S. Route 202 from State Road to Farnhurst is requested subject to the approval of the extension of U.S. Route 301 over the same segment of the highway system. Since the opening of the Interstate System, this extension of the terminal of U.S. Route 202 is redundant except for its connection with U.S. Route 301. This segment of the highway system also has the U.S. Route Numbers 13 and 40.
U.S. 202 through Wilmington used the following alignment until 1970:3
Southbound:
- Concord Avenue from I-95 to Baynard Boulevard
- Baynard Boulevard southwest across Brandywine Creek to Washington Street
- Washington Street south to Front Street (what is now Martin Luther King Boulevard)
- Front Street east five blocks to Market Street (U.S. 13 south)
- Market Street south alongside U.S. 13 to Dupont Parkway and the Farnhurst interchange (where U.S. 301 began)
Northbound:
- Dupont Parkway north alongside U.S. 13 to Walnut Street
- Walnut Street north to 16th Street west
- 16th Street two blocks west to Market Street, which crosses Brandywine Creek
- Market Street north to Concord Avenue
- Concord Avenue north to I-95 and Concord Pike
Note that the Christina River bridges for Market and Walnut Streets at that time carried two-way traffic. They now carry one-way traffic southbound for Walnut Street and northbound for Market Street as part of U.S. 13 Business. Also Washington Street between Front and 2nd Streets was removed and replaced with an S-curve leading onto Martin Luther King Boulevard (SR 48) westbound.3
Additional changes to U.S. 202 in Delaware were made in 1970. As approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) on November 7, was the elimination of U.S. 202 south of the interchange with I-95 (Exit 8). This coincided with the relocation of U.S. 13 away from Downtown Wilmington over what was previously signed as U.S. 13 Alternate along Governor Printz Boulevard. The explanation in the application from the Delaware Department of Highways & Transportation regarding U.S. 202 cited:
It is recommended that the existing U.S. 202 at the intersection of I-95 and U.S. 202 be stopped, and the section of U.S. 202 North and I-295 and I-95 interchange be eliminated.
Since the completion of I-95 (November 1968), the U.S. 202 traffic through Wilmington is moving via I-95, this being the fastest and best possible route connecting U.S. 202 and I-295.U.S. 202 along Concord Avenue south from Interstate 95 and the Wilmington city line to U.S. 13 Business (Market Street) was renumbered as Delaware State Route 202.
The endpoint of U.S. 202 was moved again from Wilmington to Basins Corner in 1984. The extension addressed safety concerns with motorists headed south from U.S. 202 via I-95 and I-295 to U.S. 13/40 at Farnhurst, which involved a weaving traffic pattern long Interstate 295. The initial request to AASHTO by the state of Delaware extended the route southwest along I-95 to SR 141, and along SR 141 southeast to U.S. 13/40. Action was withheld on the application at the May 23 meeting but subsequently approved on December 8, 1984. The proposed changes in the application to AASHTO:
Extend U.S. 202 from existing U.S. 202 and I-95 along I-95 to Route 141 and along Route 141 to U.S. 13.
This is to provide a high capacity safe connection between U.S. 13, a major north-south route, and U.S. 202, a major route into Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Prior to I-95 opening, U.S. 202 connected to U.S. 13 across City of Wilmington Streets. The Department has received continuing requests for a re-establishment of a connection.
Furthermore the results of a study completed by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) provided the rationale for the proposed change to U.S. 202:
1) The section of I-295, just west of the Farnhurst Interchange is considered a high hazard location. A total of 34 accidents were reported in 1981-82-83.
2) The short weaving distance where I-495 merges with I-295 is undesirable for high traffic volume. Eastbound traffic from I-295 toward the U.S. Route 13 exit at the Farnhurst Interchange must weave to the right hand lane which conflicts with the thru traffic and is potentially hazardous.
3) Westbound traffic from U.S. Route 13 onto I-295 has to use a heavily impacted ramp that features a poor Level of Service. The average annual daily traffic (AADT) at this ramp in 1983 was 18,322--the highest in the State.
4) I-295 is used as a major truck corridor between New York City and those states south of Delaware.
U.S. 202 Mileage: 13.06
U.S. 202 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Begin Milepost | From: | To: | AADT Composite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | U.S. 13/40 Basin Corner | SR 37 | 38,413 | |
| 1.02 | SR 37 | Interstate 95 | 41,420 | |
| Interstate 95 overlap (1.51-7.92) | ||||
| 7.92 | Interstate 95 | Augustine Cut Off | 29,943 | |
| 8.27 | Augustine Cut Off | SR 141 / 261 | 44,169 | |
| 8.67 | SR 141 / 261 | Murphy Road | 54,594 | |
| 9.23 | Murphy Road | Sharpley Road | 49,969 | |
| 9.82 | Sharpley Road | Silverside Road | 43,351 | |
| 10.88 | Silverside Road | Woodlawn Road | 45,351 | |
| 11.61 | Woodlawn Road | SR 92 | 48,153 | |
| 12.28 | SR 92 Naamans Road | PA state line (13.06) | 43,086 | |
| Source: Delaware Vehicle Volume Summary 2014 (Traffic Summary) | ||||
 scenes |
 | Looking at the former intersection of Augustine Cutoff and U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) near Blue Ball. Augustine Cutoff was realigned in 2004-05 to tie into what is now West Park Drive to the west of U.S. 202. The intersection here was removed, but the turn onto U.S. 202 south from Augustine Cutoff was retained. 03/29/04 |
 | The west end of Silverside Road at U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) in Talleyville. An extra wide median along Concord Pike here allows for sweeping turn movements between Silverside Road and U.S. 202 southbound. The U.S. 202 south shield assembly pictured here was removed after 2007. 04/21/04 |
 | Weldin Road was extended west to U.S. 202 during the Blue Ball project. The alignment connects SR 261 (Foulk Road) south with Concord Pike north. 12/20/16 |
 | Murphy Road west at U.S. 202 (Concord Pike) and Powder Mill Road (former SR 141) at Fairfax. 07/31/13 |
 | A unique trailblazer for U.S. 202 directs traffic from the south side of Concord Mall to Concord Pike. 12/22/12 |
 | Exiting Concord Mall at the southern access point to U.S. 202 (Concord Pike). 12/18/17 |
- "VIDEO: Delaware officials celebrate completion of I-95/Route 202 interchange project" WDEL, August 7, 2015.
- U.S. 202 Maine to Delaware, Federal Highway Administration.
- Information relayed by Carl Moore via Dale Sanderson, January 11, 2002.
Photo Credits:
03/29/04, 04/21/04, 12/22/12, 07/31/13, 12/20/16, 12/18/17 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 95
U.S. 13
U.S. 40
State Route 141
Page Updated 10-31-2022.