Delaware Route 6
Encyclopedia
Delaware Route 6 is a state highway in Kent County
, Delaware
. It runs from Maryland Route 291
(MD 291) at the Maryland
border west of Blackiston to the Delaware Bay
in Woodland Beach. The route passes through rural areas of northern Kent County as well as the towns of Smyrna
and Clayton
. DE 6 intersects DE 42
in Blackiston, DE 15
in Clayton, DE 300
and U.S. Route 13
(US 13) in Smyrna, and DE 9
to the east of Smyrna. The road was built as a state highway during the 1920s and 1930s and received the DE 6 designation by 1936. The easternmost part of the route was paved in the 1960s and the route was moved to its current alignment bypassing downtown Smyrna by the 1990s.
border, where the road continues west into that state as MD 291
. From the state line, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Millington Road, passing through the Blackiston Wildlife Area. The road runs through areas of woods and farms with some homes. In Blackiston, DE 6 intersects the western terminus of DE 42
, which heads southeast toward Kenton
. The route continues east through more agricultural areas and reaches an intersection with DE 15
, at which point residential development near the road increases. DE 15 turns east to form a concurrency
with DE 6, with the two routes continuing east. Upon reaching the western edge of Clayton
, DE 15 splits from DE 6 by heading to the north.
DE 6 proceeds northeast through Clayton on Main Street, where it passes homes along with a few businesses. In Clayton, the road crosses Norfolk Southern's Delmarva Secondary railroad line at-grade as it turns more to the east. The route continues into Smyrna
, where it becomes Smyrna Clayton Boulevard. Shortly after crossing into Smyrna, DE 6 intersects DE 300
, where it turns northeast onto Glenwood Avenue and forms a concurrency with DE 300. The two routes pass a mix of homes and businesses before entering a commercial area in the northern part of Smyrna. Here, the road widens into a divided highway
before intersecting US 13
. At this point, DE 300 ends and DE 6 turns southeast to form a concurrency with US 13. The two routes pass more businesses on four-lane divided Dupont Boulevard. DE 6 splits from US 13 by heading to the east on two-lane undivided Commerce Street, running through residential areas. The route passes over the DE 1 toll road without an interchange and leaves Smyrna.
Upon leaving Smyrna, DE 6 becomes Woodland Beach Road and passes Smyrna Airport
. The road heads east into agricultural areas, crossing Mill Creek as it winds east. The route intersects DE 9
before turning northeast into marshland within the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
. DE 6 turns north and reaches its eastern terminus at an intersection with Delaware Avenue in the community of Woodland Beach, located along the Delaware Bay
.
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Road
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Blackiston
|0.00
|
|Maryland state line, western terminus
|-
|3.15
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Clayton
|
|
|West end of DE 15 overlap
|-
|7.08
|
|East end of DE 15 overlap
|-
|rowspan=3|Smyrna
|7.81
|
|West end of DE 300 overlap
|-
|8.99
|
|East end of DE 300, west end of US 13 overlap
|-
|9.28
|
|East end of US 13 overlap
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Woodland Beach
|17.33
|Delaware Avenue
|Eastern terminus
|-
Kent County, Delaware
Kent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It runs from Maryland Route 291
Maryland Route 291
Maryland Route 291 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 20 in Chestertown east to the Delaware state line east of Millington, where the highway continues east as Delaware Route 6...
(MD 291) at the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border west of Blackiston to the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
in Woodland Beach. The route passes through rural areas of northern Kent County as well as the towns of Smyrna
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Clayton
Clayton, Delaware
Clayton is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. Located almost entirely in Kent County, it is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2.918 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. DE 6 intersects DE 42
Delaware Route 42
Delaware Route 42 is a state highway in Kent County, Delaware. It runs from Delaware Route 6 in Blackiston to Delaware Route 9 in Leipsic. Delaware Route 42 passes through the towns of Kenton and Cheswold along the way. The road was built as a state highway during the 1920s and 1930s...
in Blackiston, DE 15
Delaware Route 15
Delaware Route 15 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. The route runs from Delaware Route 14 west of Milford in Kent County to U.S. Route 301 and Delaware Routes 71 and 896 in Summit, New Castle County, just south of Summit Bridge. Delaware Route 15 winds a path through many rural...
in Clayton, DE 300
Delaware Route 300
Delaware Route 300 is a state highway in Kent County, Delaware. The route is a continuation of Maryland Route 300 from the Maryland border near Everetts Corner. It runs in a northeast direction from there to Smyrna, where it ends at U.S. Route 13...
and U.S. Route 13
U.S. Route 13 in Delaware
U.S. Route 13 is the main north–south highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. It traverses the entire length of the state from the Maryland border in Delmar, Sussex County to the Pennsylvania border in Claymont, New Castle County. U.S. Route 13 connects many important cities and towns in...
(US 13) in Smyrna, and DE 9
Delaware Route 9
Delaware Route 9 is a state highway that connects with Delaware Route 1 at the Dover Air Force Base to Interstate 95 in the City of Wilmington. Much like their U.S...
to the east of Smyrna. The road was built as a state highway during the 1920s and 1930s and received the DE 6 designation by 1936. The easternmost part of the route was paved in the 1960s and the route was moved to its current alignment bypassing downtown Smyrna by the 1990s.
Route description
DE 6 begins at the MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border, where the road continues west into that state as MD 291
Maryland Route 291
Maryland Route 291 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 20 in Chestertown east to the Delaware state line east of Millington, where the highway continues east as Delaware Route 6...
. From the state line, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Millington Road, passing through the Blackiston Wildlife Area. The road runs through areas of woods and farms with some homes. In Blackiston, DE 6 intersects the western terminus of DE 42
Delaware Route 42
Delaware Route 42 is a state highway in Kent County, Delaware. It runs from Delaware Route 6 in Blackiston to Delaware Route 9 in Leipsic. Delaware Route 42 passes through the towns of Kenton and Cheswold along the way. The road was built as a state highway during the 1920s and 1930s...
, which heads southeast toward Kenton
Kenton, Delaware
Kenton is a town in Kent County, Delaware, United States. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 261 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Kenton is located at ....
. The route continues east through more agricultural areas and reaches an intersection with DE 15
Delaware Route 15
Delaware Route 15 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. The route runs from Delaware Route 14 west of Milford in Kent County to U.S. Route 301 and Delaware Routes 71 and 896 in Summit, New Castle County, just south of Summit Bridge. Delaware Route 15 winds a path through many rural...
, at which point residential development near the road increases. DE 15 turns east to form a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with DE 6, with the two routes continuing east. Upon reaching the western edge of Clayton
Clayton, Delaware
Clayton is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. Located almost entirely in Kent County, it is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2.918 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, DE 15 splits from DE 6 by heading to the north.
DE 6 proceeds northeast through Clayton on Main Street, where it passes homes along with a few businesses. In Clayton, the road crosses Norfolk Southern's Delmarva Secondary railroad line at-grade as it turns more to the east. The route continues into Smyrna
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where it becomes Smyrna Clayton Boulevard. Shortly after crossing into Smyrna, DE 6 intersects DE 300
Delaware Route 300
Delaware Route 300 is a state highway in Kent County, Delaware. The route is a continuation of Maryland Route 300 from the Maryland border near Everetts Corner. It runs in a northeast direction from there to Smyrna, where it ends at U.S. Route 13...
, where it turns northeast onto Glenwood Avenue and forms a concurrency with DE 300. The two routes pass a mix of homes and businesses before entering a commercial area in the northern part of Smyrna. Here, the road widens into a divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
before intersecting US 13
U.S. Route 13 in Delaware
U.S. Route 13 is the main north–south highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. It traverses the entire length of the state from the Maryland border in Delmar, Sussex County to the Pennsylvania border in Claymont, New Castle County. U.S. Route 13 connects many important cities and towns in...
. At this point, DE 300 ends and DE 6 turns southeast to form a concurrency with US 13. The two routes pass more businesses on four-lane divided Dupont Boulevard. DE 6 splits from US 13 by heading to the east on two-lane undivided Commerce Street, running through residential areas. The route passes over the DE 1 toll road without an interchange and leaves Smyrna.
Upon leaving Smyrna, DE 6 becomes Woodland Beach Road and passes Smyrna Airport
Smyrna Airport (Delaware)
Smyrna Airport is a public use airport located one nautical mile east of the central business district of Smyrna, in Kent County, Delaware, United States. It is privately owned by Barbara Jones.- Facilities and aircraft :...
. The road heads east into agricultural areas, crossing Mill Creek as it winds east. The route intersects DE 9
Delaware Route 9
Delaware Route 9 is a state highway that connects with Delaware Route 1 at the Dover Air Force Base to Interstate 95 in the City of Wilmington. Much like their U.S...
before turning northeast into marshland within the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area is a State Wildlife Area located in Kent County, Delaware, along shore of the Delaware Bay. It is in size and is managed by Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control , Division of Fish & Wildlife....
. DE 6 turns north and reaches its eastern terminus at an intersection with Delaware Avenue in the community of Woodland Beach, located along the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
.
History
By 1920, what is now DE 6 existed as an unimproved county road. The road was completed as a state highway within Clayton and was proposed as one from Clayton west to Blackiston by 1924. On August 5, 1925, the state highway between Clayton and Blackiston was completed. The portion of the road between Blackiston and the Maryland border was upgraded to a state highway in 1930. By 1931, the state highway was extended east to a location near the present-day DE 9 intersection. When Delaware created its state highway system by 1936, DE 6 was routed between the Maryland border west of Blackiston and Woodland Beach, following its current alignment to Smyrna, passing through Smyrna on Commerce Street, and continuing east on its current alignment to Woodland Beach. All of the route was paved except for the easternmost portion. The eastern portion of the road was paved by 1967. By the 1990s, DE 6 was routed onto its current alignment through Smyrna along DE 300 and US 13, bypassing the downtown area.Major intersections
The entire route is in Kent CountyKent County, Delaware
Kent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Road
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Blackiston
|0.00
|
|Maryland state line, western terminus
|-
|3.15
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Clayton
Clayton, Delaware
Clayton is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. Located almost entirely in Kent County, it is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2.918 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
|
|
|West end of DE 15 overlap
|-
|7.08
|
|East end of DE 15 overlap
|-
|rowspan=3|Smyrna
Smyrna, Delaware
Smyrna is a town in Kent and New Castle counties in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area...
|7.81
|
|West end of DE 300 overlap
|-
|8.99
|
|East end of DE 300, west end of US 13 overlap
|-
|9.28
|
|East end of US 13 overlap
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Woodland Beach
|17.33
|Delaware Avenue
|Eastern terminus
|-