This 1999 photo shows the northbound Delaware Turnpike (I-95) approximately two miles south of the I-95 / I-295 / I-495 / DE 141 interchange in Newport. (Photo by Alex Nitzman.)

NON-STOP THROUGH THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR: When the first Delaware Memorial Bridge opened in 1951, state officials planned a toll expressway to connect the new span with the Chesapeake Bay-William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge. The proposed "Maryland Expressway," which was to have been funded partially with proceeds from the Delaware Memorial Bridge tolls, was to be constructed parallel to US 301 through the Delmarva Peninsula. The toll road was never constructed.

Four years later, in 1955, state officials returned with a proposal for a new toll road, the Delaware Turnpike, which was to connect the Delaware Memorial Bridge with the Northeast Expressway, a toll road being developed by the state of Maryland. Together with the New Jersey Turnpike and other routes, a nonstop route would be provided from New York to Washington. Original plans called for the Delaware Turnpike to be financed by Delaware Memorial Bridge tolls, but soon after plans were announced, a new agency was created to fund, construct and maintain the toll road.

A TOLL ROAD IN THE HEIGHT OF THE INTERSTATE ERA: In 1956, the Federal Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) authorized construction of a controlled-access route along the US 40 corridor - it eventually received the I-95 designation - from the Wilmington-New Castle area south to Baltimore. Despite the promise of 90 percent Federal funding for a free I-95, the states of Delaware and Maryland had to advance the full cost of the highway up front. In 1960, the state legislatures of Delaware and Maryland authorized construction of I-95 as a toll facility. It was thought that constructing a toll I-95 would accelerate completion of the Interstate system in the respective states.

On November 15, 1963, just one week before his assassination, President John F. Kennedy opened the 11 miles of the Delaware Turnpike and the 47 miles of the Northeast Expressway (later renamed the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) at the Delaware-Maryland border. The border, more popularly known as the Mason-Dixon line, also celebrated its bicentennial that day. In addition to President Kennedy, Robert Moses presided over the opening of I-95 in Delaware and Maryland. The Delaware Turnpike, the second controlled-access highway to open in Delaware, was completed at a cost of $30 million.

When the Delaware Turnpike opened, its exit numbering system continued that of the Northeast Expressway from Maryland. This changed in 1973, when the present exit numbering system along I-95 in Delaware was implemented. However, EXIT 2, which was to have been used for the Pike Creek Freeway (US 301), was never constructed.

Over the years, the Delaware State Highway Department, and later, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) made improvements to the original four-lane turnpike. Between 1968 and 1972, the turnpike was widened to six lanes, a project that was funded by turnpike tolls. Around this time, interchange tolls also financed the reconstruction of EXIT 1 (DE 896), EXIT 3 (DE 273) and EXIT 4 (DE 1 / DE 7 / DE 58).

During the early 1980's, DelDOT built a fourth travel lane in each direction from EXIT 1 to EXIT 5 (I-95 / I-295 / I-495 / DE 141) in New Castle. During the 1990's, DelDOT resurfaced the 11-mile-long toll section.

This 2000 photo shows the southbound Delaware Turnpike (I-95) approaching the Newark service area. (Photo by Jim K. Georges.)

OVERVIEW OF THE TOLL SYSTEM: The Delaware Turnpike opened with a ten-cent toll at the Newark barrier toll plaza, and five-cent tolls were collected at interchanges. In 1970, a failed one-month experiment used the honor system: drivers who lacked exact change for the automated toll machines were to mail tolls in preaddressed envelopes that were dispensed at the machines. The interchange tolls were removed in 1976, but evidence of the former tolls remains: ramps widen and straighten out in the area of the former tollbooths. In 1998, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) expanded the Newark barrier toll plaza, adding lanes for the EZ-Pass interregional toll system.

In the mid-2000's, Governor Ruth Ann Minner and DelDOT suggested public-private partnerships, including leasing the Delaware Turnpike, DE 1 Turnpike, and proposed US 301 Turnpike to private firms, to address DelDOT's budget shortfalls. Under such an arrangement, the state would receive a lump-sum payment while the private firms would collect tolls and maintain the highways.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TOLL SECTION: Just north of EXIT 4, DelDOT replaced the four-lane Churchmans Road (DE 58) overpass that accommodates not only an expanded I-95 mainline, but also future C/D roads. The $13 million project was completed in December 2006, one year behind schedule.

DelDOT plans the following additional improvements on the Delaware Turnpike:

  • DelDOT plans to replace the existing 20-lane Newark toll plaza with a 12-lane plaza at the current site. The $89 million plaza, which now is scheduled for completion in 2013, will feature four new high-speed EZ-Pass lanes (two in each direction).

  • DelDOT plans minor improvements at EXIT 1 (DE 896) in Newark. The $1.5 million project is scheduled for completion in 2008.

  • At EXIT 4 (DE 1 Turnpike and DE 7) in Christiana, DelDOT plans a $125 million reconstruction project that will include a new two-lane, high-speed flyover ramp from southbound I-95 to southbound DE 1 / DE 7, as well as a new collector-distributor (C/D) road along northbound DE 1 / DE 7 that will serve northbound I-95 and the nearby Christiana Mall. The project is slated for completion in 2011.

  • DelDOT is expanding the turnpike mainline from four to five lanes in each direction between EXIT 4 and EXIT 5 (I-295 / I-495 / DE 141) in Newport. At EXIT 4, DelDOT is building a northbound C/D road for local traffic, and through the area just south of EXIT 5, the roadways are being expanded to six lanes in each direction. New shoulders measuring 12 feet to 14 feet wide are being built through the project area. The $75 million project is scheduled for completion by 2009. DelDOT plans to maintain four lanes of traffic in each direction during the daytime hours, but only two lanes during the overnight hours.

DelDOT raised the toll on passenger cars from $2.00 (in each direction) to $3.00 in October 2005 ad again to $4.00 in October 2007 to finance these and other projects. It also eliminated discounts for EZ-Pass users.

LOCAL AND EXPRESS SEPARATION PLANNED? Original plans called for a dual-dual configuration, similar to that found on the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), to be constructed at a later date. Although since abandoned, the following vestiges of this plan remain:

  • The overpasses at EXIT 1 and EXIT 3 have space between the shoulders and bridge abutments for additional roadways.

  • Southbound on the collector-distributor (C/D) road at EXIT 4B, the bridge has a very wide shoulder. This space would have accommodated additional lanes.
    •

This 2002 photo shows the northbound Delaware Turnpike (I-95) at the split for I-95 / I-295 / I-495 in New Castle. (Photo by Jim K. Georges.)

The speed limit should be raised to 65 MPH on the Delaware Turnpike between the Delaware-Maryland border and EXIT 5.

Further north, to eliminate confusion among motorists traveling on the East Coast, the following new  "local" and "express" designations for I-95 should be assigned as follows:

  • Beginning in New Castle, Delaware, the "local" I-95 would serve Delaware via the existing I-495 alignment, and Pennsylvania through the existing I-95 alignment (Delaware Expressway). It would then cross the Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge (I-276) and rejoin the "express" I-95 at EXIT 6 of the New Jersey Turnpike.

  • A companion route, "express" I-95 would comprise of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the current I-295 approaches, and the length of the New Jersey Turnpike north to EXIT 6.

  • Finally, the present I-95 through downtown Wilmington should be re-designated I-895.

(Thanks to phillyroads.com and misc.transport.road contributor Chris Blaney for the recommendation.)

SOURCES: "Delaware Seeks To Extend Tolls," The New York Times (10/04/1955); "New York-Washington Road Now Nonstop" by Ben A. Franklin, The New York Times (11/14/1963); "Kennedy, on Mason-Dixon Line, Opens Part of North-South Road" by Marjorie Hunter, The New York Times (11/15/1963); "Honor System Ending on Delaware Turnpike," The New York Times (7/04/1970); "Lawmakers Get To-Do List from DelDOT" by Jennifer Portman, The Wilmington News-Journal (5/17/2001); "Churchmans I-95 Span To Be Replaced" by Sean O'Sullivan, The Wilmington News-Journal (2/25/2004); "State Decides on a Fix for I-95 Traffic" by Sean O'Sullivan, The Wilmington News-Journal (5/11/2004); "Delaware Plans To Raise I-95 Tolls," The Baltimore Sun (6/30/2005); "I-95 Widening Project Added to Budget" by Patrick Jackson and Angie Basiouny," The Wilmington News-Journal (7/02/2005); "Delaware Reported Upping Tolls 50% To Balance Budget" by Peter Samuel, Toll Roads News (7/02/2005); "Churchmans Road Bridge Over I-95 Completed," The Wilmington News-Journal (12/08/2006); "Draft FY 2008-2011 Transportation Improvement Program," Delaware Department of Transportation (2006); "DelDOT Considers Cashing In on Toll Roads" by Summer Harlow, The Wilmington News-Journal (1/07/2007); "Settlement Won't Speed I-95 Plan" by Angie Basiouny,  The Wilmington News-Journal (1/11/2007); "Higher Tolls, Fees Start Today," The Wilmington News-Journal (10/01/2007); Chris Blaney; Scott Kozel; Raymond C. Martin; Dan Mengel; Alex Nitzman; Scott Oglesby; Sandy Smith; Jeff Taylor; Ken Weaverling; William F. Yurasko.

  • I-95 and I-895 shields by Ralph Herman.
  • Delaware Turnpike shield by James Lin.
  • Delaware Turnpike token photo by Rush Wickes.
  • Lightpost by Millerbernd Manufacturing Company.
  • Speed limit sign by C.C. Slater.

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