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US 301 History

US 301 extends from the Maryland /Delaware State Line to State Route 1 and is a 14-mile limited access highway with 4 interchanges, 28 bridges, and tolls collected using Delaware's first All Electronic Tolling (AET) system. The project resulted in the creation of 68 acres of new wetlands and, during its first year resulted in travel time savings of up to 20 minutes, over 50% fewer trucks using "old" US 301, and toll revenues that have exceeded projections.

The purpose of US 301 was to improve safety, manage truck traffic, and reduce congestion; support approved and proposed economic development in southern New Castle County (a key Delaware growth area); enhance the region’s ability to compete for economic development; create needed jobs; improve local access to the Northeast Corridor Rail (Amtrak), commuter rail (SEPTA) and bus (DART) services; improve livability in the region and reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

US 301 removed the “neck in the bottle” of the regional highway network, i.e. “old” US 301 from the Maryland/Delaware state line to I-95 and its 2-lane sections (1 lane in each direction), 29 at-grade intersections (18 signalized) and numerous driveways with direct access to “old” US 301. The project converted the “old” US 301 to a roadway that is key to the local roadway network and approved and proposed development in this designated Delaware growth area.

The US 301 Mainline project was divided into seven (7) road contracts along with six (6) other supporting contracts for items such as advance clearing, toll facilities and landscaping. The contracts were built concurrently over a three year period and the road was opened to traffic on January 10, 2019 within the $636M total budget.