Puncheon Run Connector

The Puncheon Run Connector is an unnumbered four-lane freeway in the city of Dover in Kent County, Delaware. It is named after Puncheon Run, a stream it follows. It provides a connection from U.S. Route 13 (US 13) east to the northbound direction of the Delaware Route 1 (DE 1) toll road, with an intermediate interchange at Bay Road. The road is part of the National Highway System and serves as part of a north–south route for traffic crossing the Delmarva Peninsula. Planning for the Puncheon Run Connector began in the 1980s and originally included a freeway upgrade of US 13 south to Woodside. The connector was scaled back to its current routing in 1992. The freeway was built between 1998 and 2000 at a cost of $25 million.

Puncheon Run Connector

Puncheon Run Connector highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by DelDOT
Length2.39 mi[1] (3.85 km)
Existed2000[2]–present
Major junctions
West end US 13 in Dover
East end
 DE 1 Toll in Dover
Location
CountryUnited States
StateDelaware
CountiesKent
Highway system

Route description
The Puncheon Run Connector eastbound past US 13 in Dover

The Puncheon Run Connector begins at an at-grade intersection with US 13 in the city of Dover, heading to the northeast as a four-lane freeway. The intersection with US 13 has no access from southbound US 13 to the freeway. After passing over South State Street and Puncheon Run, the freeway curves to the east and runs between woods and the parallel Puncheon Run to the south and residential and commercial development to the north. The road crosses over the St. Jones River in marshland and continues east-northeast, passing between a residential neighborhood to the south and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) headquarters to the north before coming to an eastbound exit and westbound entrance at Bay Road. Immediately after the Bay Road interchange, the Puncheon Run Connector merges into the northbound direction of the DE 1 toll road at a partial interchange a short distance to the north of Dover Air Force Base, with access to northbound DE 1 and from southbound DE 1.[3][4]

The Puncheon Run Connector has an annual average daily traffic count of 14,618 vehicles.[1] The entire length of the Puncheon Run Connector is part of the National Highway System.[5]

History

Planning for the Puncheon Run Connector dates back to the 1980s, when a "Relief Route" was proposed for US 13 between Dover and Wilmington. In 1987, plans called for the Puncheon Run Connector to be built along its current alignment between US 13 and DE 1, with an intermediate interchange at US 113 (Bay Road), in addition to US 13 being upgraded to a freeway south to Woodside, with interchanges at Webbs Lane in Dover and DE 10 in Camden.[6] In 1992, DelDOT held a meeting to discuss proposals for the road, including a possible Far West By-Pass Connector through the western part of Dover. The city of Dover initially opposed the Puncheon Run Connector and favored the Far West By-Pass Connector as the latter would ease traffic congestion caused by development in the western part of the city.[7] Plans for the connector were modified in 1992 to not include the upgrade of US 13 to a freeway between Woodside and Dover.[6] Prior to the construction of the Puncheon Run Connector, a site along Puncheon Run had to be excavated by DelDOT and Louis Berger & Associates as it consisted of Native American artifacts from prehistoric times.[8] The excavation of the site lasted from October 1997 to September 1998.[9] Construction on the road began in October 1998.[10] The Puncheon Run Connector was completed and opened to traffic in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 19, 2000, with Governor Tom Carper and DelDOT secretary Anne Canby in attendance.[2] The road was constructed by David A. Bramble, Inc. and G.A. & F.C. Wagman, Inc. at a cost of $25 million.[11]

Exit list

The entire road is in Dover, Kent County.

mi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
0.000.00 US 13 – Dover, Salisbury, NorfolkAt-grade intersection; no access from southbound US 13
1.612.592ABay Road south – Dover AFBEastbound exit and westbound entrance; to DE 1 south
2BBay Road north – South DoverEastbound exit and westbound entrance; last eastbound exit before toll
2.393.85

 DE 1 Toll north – Wilmington, Delaware Memorial Bridge		Access to north DE 1 and from south DE 1; DE 1 exit 97
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. Staff (2018). "Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Kent County" (PDF). Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  2. "SR 1 in Home Stretch" (PDF). On the Road. No. 26. Delaware Department of Transportation. Spring 2001. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Delaware Department of Transportation (2017). Official Travel & Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  4. Google (March 17, 2010). "overview of Puncheon Run Connector" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  5. National Highway System: Delaware (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  6. "Puncheon Run Alternative Selected" (PDF). On the Road. No. 10. Delaware Department of Transportation. Summer 1992. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "Regular Council Meeting". City of Dover. August 10, 1992. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  8. "Explore Delaware's Prehistory at Puncheon Run" (PDF). Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  9. "Section 1.0 Introduction" (PDF). Delaware Department of Transportation. 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  10. "Council Committees". City of Dover. October 12, 1998. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  11. "The History of David A. Bramble, Inc". David A. Bramble, Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
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