U.S. Route 13 (US 13) runs along the Atlantic coastline for over , passing through five states. Along its route, it possessed numerous special routes, which are all loops off the mainline US 13. At present, there are at least 15 special routes in existence: two in North Carolina, five in Virginia, two in Maryland, four in Delaware, and two in Pennsylvania. 13 others have existed in the past but have been deleted.
Bethel business loop
U.S. Highway 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a
business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of
US 13, passing through
Bethel
Bethel (, "House of El" or "House of God",Bleeker and Widegren, 1988, p. 257. also transliterated ''Beth El'', ''Beth-El'', ''Beit El''; ; ) was an ancient Israelite city and sacred space that is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
Bet ...
in the state of
North Carolina
North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
. It is entirely overlapped with
North Carolina Highway 11 Bus. (NC 11 Bus.). The route branches from US 13 just south of the town and follows South Main Street through the town, intersecting
US 64 Alternate (US 64 Alt.) within. It rejoins US 13 just south of its interchange with
US 64.
Major intersections
Windsor alternate route
U.S. Highway 13A (US 13A) was an
alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
of
US 13 serving
Windsor, North Carolina
Windsor is a town in and the county seat of Bertie County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,630 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, up from 2,283 in 2000 United States census, 2000. Windsor is located in North Carol ...
. Established by 1957 when mainline US 13 was bypassed west of Windsor, the alternate route followed the original alignment through downtown Windsor. In 1960, it was redesignated as a business route.
[
]
Windsor business loop
U.S. Highway 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving Windsor, North Carolina
Windsor is a town in and the county seat of Bertie County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,630 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, up from 2,283 in 2000 United States census, 2000. Windsor is located in North Carol ...
. It begins by following US 17 off the concurrency with US 13 south of the town but leaves US 17 at the very next intersection, following South Granville Street. It then turns onto West Granville Street, where it follows NC 308, and then north on North King Street, leaving behind NC 308. US 13 Bus. continues north along King Street until it rejoins US 13 north of the town.
Major intersections
Suffolk business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving the city of Suffolk
Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
in the state of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. It consists of the original routing of the highway before mainline US 13 was rerouted onto a freeway bypass to the west and north of the city. It begins near Suffolk Executive Airport, where US 13 leaves the roadway at a trumpet interchange
In the field of road transport, an interchange (American English) or a grade-separated junction (British English) is a road junction that uses grade separations to allow for the movement of traffic between two or more roadways or highways, usi ...
, traveling west, while US 13 Bus. continues north on Carolina Road concurrent with State Route 32 (SR 32). As it travels deeper into the city, it intersects Washington Street, which carries SR 337, and becomes concurrent with SR 10. The three routes follow Main Street north until it meets US 58 Bus. and US 460 Bus. Here, US 13 Bus. joins the two business routes and heads east on Constance Road. The name changes to Portsmouth Boulevard and US 13 Bus./US 58 Bus./US 460 Bus. cross SR 337. The three-route overlap of business routes rejoin their mainline route, US 13/ US 58/ US 460, at a directional interchange (with no access to the southbound/westbound carriageway from the northbound business route) and resumes toward Norfolk
Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
.
Major intersections
Norfolk spur route
Cheriton business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving Cheriton in the state of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. The route begins at an intersection with mainline US 13 and SR 184, where SR 184 goes westward and US 13 Bus. leaves to the east of US 13. The route follows Bayside Road for its entire length, providing access to Oyster
Oyster is the common name for a number of different families of salt-water bivalve molluscs that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but no ...
via Sunnyside Road.
Major intersections
Cheriton bypass route
Eastville business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving Eastville in the state of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. It is a two-lane road which follows Courthouse Road for its entire length. It begins in Stumptown, where it leaves US 13 at an intersection to the west, passes through Eastville, and recombines with US 13 north of town in Kendall Grove
Kendall Grove (born November 12, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2003, he has also competed for the Bellator MMA, UFC, KSW, ProElite, King ...
. The route provides access to Old Town Neck Drive, which leads to the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula, including parts of the Ea ...
.
Major intersections
Eastville bypass route
Exmore business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving Exmore in the state of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. It begins with an intersection south of town with US 13, parallel to a railroad alignment, and carries Exmore's Main Street. In town, it intersects SR 183 before leaving Main Street for Lincoln Avenue; Main Street continues as SR 178. Lincoln Avenue sends US 13 Bus. back to its parent just south of the Accomack County line.
Major intersections
Exmore bypass route
Onley–Accomac business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 serving Onley, Tasley, and Accomac in the state of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, weaving across the parent US 13 several times. It begins in Onley in the south with an intersection with US 13, leaving the mainline route to the east and following Coastal Avenue. It closely parallels a railroad alignment as both of them pass under the mainline US 13 with no interchange, now following the route to its west. SR 650 intersects that route just before it curves to the northeast, meeting SR 316 (Greenbush Avenue) and SR 126 (Fairgrounds Road) at a roundabout
A roundabout, a rotary and a traffic circle are types of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junct ...
. US 13 Business heads east here and takes on the name Tasley Road as it passes through Tasley. Tasley Road carries US 13 Bus. back toward its parent, intersecting it and continuing across as it enters Accomac on Front Street. Front Street eventually expands into a four-lane boulevard just before it rejoins mainline US 13, the southbound lanes intersecting with the north bound merging into it as a ramp.
Major intersections
Tasley bypass route
Accomac bypass route
Pocomoke City business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 that passes through Pocomoke City in Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engl ...
and Somerset
Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...
counties in Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
.
The route begins south of Pocomoke City; US 13's four-lane divided mainline curves away to the right around the town, while US 13 Bus. continues straight ahead as a two-lane town street.
After intersecting Maryland Route 366
Maryland Route 366 (MD 366) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its sou ...
(MD 366), the route connects with the original southern terminus of US 113, the latter having been rolled back to terminate at mainline US 13. For a time, the marooned segment was part of MD 250 but is now designated MD 250A. Continuing north, the route heads toward the city waterfront and business district, passing through a pair of intersections with traffic lights permanently set to "flash" mode due to lack of traffic.
The route soon reaches the Pocomoke River
The Pocomoke River stretches approximately U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 from southern Delaware through southeastern Maryland in the United States. At i ...
, crossing it on a drawbridge that was first constructed in the 1920s, reconstructed in the 1990s, and continues in active service today. After crossing the river, the route heads out of town into rural surroundings before terminating on US 13 at the southern terminus of MD 364.
The route was originally created as a segment of MD 675 by 1975, when the four-lane divided Ocean Highway opened around the eastern and northern edges of the town for US 13, allowing through traffic to avoid congested inner-city streets. The road was eventually designated US 13 Bus.
Major intersections
Salisbury business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 in the state of Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
. The highway runs between US 13 south of Fruitland and US 13 and US 50 on the north side of Salisbury
Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...
. US 13 Bus. is a four-lane highway with divided and undivided sections that provides access to downtown Salisbury, where the highway intersects US 50 Bus., Salisbury University
Salisbury University is a public university in Salisbury, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1925, Salisbury University is a member of the University System of Maryland, with a fall 2022 enrollment of 7,123.
Salisbury University offers unde ...
, and Fruitland, where the highway meets MD 513. US 13 Bus. was constructed as a new alignment of US 13 in several steps in the 1930s and early 1940s. The section of the highway through Salisbury was originally constructed with four lanes, while the portion of the highway through Fruitland and at the northern end was expanded to a divided highway in the first half of the 1950s. US 13 Bus. was designated when US 13 was moved to the Salisbury Bypass upon its completion in 1982.
Delmar alternate route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate (US 13 Alt.) was a alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
extending from US 13 in Delmar, Maryland
Delmar is a town in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,003 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. When the population is added to Delmar, Delaware, the ...
, to Hearne's Mill near Seaford, Delaware
Seaford is a city located along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census Bureau figures, the population of the city is 6,928, an increase of 3.4% from the 2000 census. It is part of the Salisbu ...
. US 13 Alt. began at US 13 south of Delmar in Wicomico County, Maryland
Wicomico County ( ) is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 103,588. The county seat is ...
, heading northwest into the town on two-lane undivided Bi State Boulevard. The road turned north and came to an intersection with MD 455, at which point it crossed the state line and entered Delmar in Sussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware, on the Delmarva Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 237,378, making it the state's second most populated county behind New Castle and ahead of Ke ...
. The route continued north before it left Delmar and headed through rural areas, with a Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...
line a short distance to the west and US 13 to the east. Farther north, US 13 Alt. entered Laurel
Laurel may refer to:
Plants
* Lauraceae, the laurel family
* Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel
People
* Laurel (given name), people with the given name
* Laurel (surname), people with the surname
* Laurel (mus ...
, where it became Central Avenue. In Laurel, the route intersected DE 24 and crossed Broad Creek on a drawbridge
A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable b ...
. The road curved to the northwest and left the town and continued through rural land along Seaford Road, with the railroad tracks to the west and US 13 to the east. The route entered the town of Blades, where it headed north on and reached a junction with DE 20 at High Street. At this point, DE 20 turned north for a concurrency
Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:
Law
* Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea''
* Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...
with US 13 Alt., and the two routes continued north, crossing the Nanticoke River
The Nanticoke River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula. It rises in southern Kent County, Delaware, Kent County, Delaware, flows through Sussex County, Delaware, Sussex County, Delaware, and forms the boundary between ...
on a drawbridge. Here, the road entered the city of Seaford and became Front Street, running north. On the northern edge of Seaford, DE 20 split from US 13 Alt. by turning west onto Stein Highway. From this point, US 13 Alt. left Seaford and became Bridgeville Highway, heading northeast through rural areas to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13 at Hearne's Mill.
US 13 Alt. was designated in 1954 following the completion of a new divided highway alignment of US 13 between south of Delmar, Maryland, and north of Seaford, Delaware. The route was decommissioned in 1957. By 1983, the portion of the former route in Maryland was designated as a section of MD 675. The former route in Delaware is state-maintained and is designated as Road 13. Despite the fact that the road has been decommissioned, locals in Wicomico and Sussex counties still refer to the route as "Alternate 13" or "U.S. Route 13A".
Major intersections
Bridgeville business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a [ ]business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 that passes through the town of Bridgeville in Sussex County, Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. The business route begins at an intersection with US 13 and DE 404 south of Bridgeville, where it heads west concurrent with DE 404 Bus. as four-lane divided
Division is one of the four basic operations of arithmetic. The other operations are addition, subtraction, and multiplication. What is being divided is called the ''dividend'', which is divided by the ''divisor'', and the result is called the ...
South Main Street. The road immediately curves to the north as it passes to the west of businesses, narrowing into a two-lane undivided road. The route heads north-northwest through farmland before heading into Bridgeville, where it passes homes. In the center of town, DE 404 Bus. splits from US 13 Bus. by heading to the west. US 13 Bus. becomes North Main Street and curves to the north-northeast, leaving Bridgeville and heading through farmland with some development. The business route has a junction with Redden Road before it reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13/DE 404 only accessible to and from the southbound lanes of US 13. US 13 Bus. has an annual average daily traffic
Annual average daily traffic (AADT) is a measure used primarily in transportation planning, transportation engineering and retail location selection. Traditionally, it is the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided ...
count ranging from a high of 6,171 vehicles at the north end of the DE 404 Bus. concurrency to a low of 3,429 vehicles at the northern border of Bridgeville.[
The route was originally built as a state highway south of Bridgeville by 1920 and north of Bridgeville by 1924] and received the US 13 designation in 1926. In 1952, US 13 was rerouted to bypass Bridgeville to the east on a new divided highway. The former alignment through Bridgeville became US 13 Alt. by 1957. US 13 Bus. was established in 1970, replacing the previous US 13 Alt. designation. In June 2007, a $15-million (equivalent to $ in ) project began that realigned the intersection at the southern terminus with US 13 and DE 404 from a skewed intersection to a perpendicular intersection and built service roads on both sides of US 13. The project was intended to improve safety at the intersection, which saw a high accident rate due to its design. Work on the project was completed on May 21, 2009, with the Delaware Department of Transportation
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is an agency of the U.S. state of Delaware. The Secretary of Transportation is Shanté Hastings. The agency was established in 1917 and has its headquarters in Dover, Delaware, Dover.
The depar ...
(DelDOT) secretary Carolann Wicks and President of Commissioners for the Town of Bridgeville William Jefferson in attendance at a ceremony.
Major intersections
Bridgeville alternate route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate (US 13 Alt.) was a [ ]alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
of US 13 that passed through the town of Bridgeville in Sussex County, Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. US 13 Alt. began at an intersection with US 13 and DE 404 southeast of Bridgeville, heading northwest concurrent with DE 404 on two-lane undivided Main Street. The road entered Bridgeville and headed north through the town, with DE 404 splitting from US 13 Alt. by heading west along Market Street. US 13 Alt. left Bridgeville and continued northeast to its terminus at another intersection with US 13. US 13 Alt. was designated in 1957 on the former routing of US 13 through Bridgeville that was bypassed. US 13 Alt. was decommissioned in 1970 when it was replaced with US 13 Bus.
Major intersections
Camden alternate route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate (US 13 Alt.) is a alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
of US 13 that passes through the towns of Woodside and Camden in Kent County, Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. The route's southern terminus is at US 13 and DE 15 near Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
. From here, US 13 Alt. heads northwest concurrent with DE 15 on two-lane undivided Upper King Road. The alternate route passes through farmland with some homes before reaching Woodside. In this town, the road heads through residential areas and intersects DE 10 Alt., where DE 15 splits from US 13 Alt. by heading west along DE 10 Alt. US 13 Alt. leaves Woodside and runs north through a mix of farmfields and woods with some homes, crossing Tidbury Creek to the east of Derby Pond. The route curves northeast and passes a mix of agricultural areas and residential subdivisions before it enters Camden. In this town, the road becomes Main Street and is lined with homes, crossing DE 10. US 13 Alt. continues past more residences and businesses and crosses Old North Road, where it becomes Old Camden Road and heads to the east of Caesar Rodney High School
Caesar Rodney High School is a public high school located in Camden, Delaware, just south of Dover. The school is in Caesar Rodney School District. Its enrollment is over 2,000. During 1983 to 1984, Caesar Rodney was recognized as a Blue Ribb ...
. The alternate route intersects Caboose Road, a one-way road which heads east to provide access to US 13. A short distance later, US 13 Alt. reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13 in the northern part of Camden east of Brecknock County Park. The portion of the route between Voshells Mill Road and a point north of Old North Road in Camden is part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a Delaware Byway.[ US 13 Alt. has an ]annual average daily traffic
Annual average daily traffic (AADT) is a measure used primarily in transportation planning, transportation engineering and retail location selection. Traditionally, it is the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided ...
count ranging from a high of 10,269 vehicles at the South Street intersection in Camden to a low of 3,845 vehicles at the southern border of Woodside.[
By 1920, the portion of road south of Woodside was under contract as a state highway while the portion north of there was proposed as one.] The state highway was completed by 1924 and was designated as US 13 in 1926. In 1952, US 13 was rerouted to a new divided highway alignment to the east of Woodside and Camden, and US 13 Alt. was designated onto the former alignment that was bypassed.
Major intersections
Dover alternate route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate (US 13 Alt.) is a alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
of US 13 that passes through the downtown area of the city of Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
in Kent County, Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. The route's southern terminus is at US 13 in Rodney Village; this intersection has no access from southbound US 13 Alt. to northbound US 13. From here, the alternate route heads north on South Governors Avenue, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane
A reversible lane, also known as variable lane, dynamic lane, and tidal flow, is a managed lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. Typically, it is meant to improve traffic flow during rush hours, ...
. The road passes homes to the west and businesses to the east, entering Dover at the Webbs Lane intersection. The route curves northeast past more commercial establishments prior to bending north and crossing Puncheon Run, passing through residential areas with a few businesses. US 13 Alt. heads into more commercial areas and passes to the west of Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, where it bends to the north-northwest. At this point, the route loses the center turn lane and becomes a two-lane undivided road. The road heads into downtown Dover, where it intersects West Loockerman Street. The route becomes lined with homes before it crosses DE 8. Past this intersection, US 13 Alt. becomes North Governors Avenue and passes to the west of the Delaware State University
Delaware State University (DSU or Del State) is a Statutory college#Outside New York State, privately governed, state-assisted Historically black colleges and universities, historically black Land-grant university, land-grant research universi ...
Downtown campus before it continues through residential areas. The route splits from North Governors Avenue and heads northeast on Governors Boulevard to an intersection with Walker Road and North State Street. At this intersection, US 13 Alt. turns north onto four-lane undivided North State Street and crosses Silver Lake. The road heads into business areas and gains a center left-turn lane while it carries two northbound lanes and one southbound lane. US 13 Alt. reaches its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13 and Leipsic Road near Dover Motor Speedway
Dover Motor Speedway (formerly known as the Dover International Speedway from 2002 to 2021 and as the Dover Downs International Speedway from 1969 to 2001) is a oval track in Dover, Delaware. The venue has hosted major events since its inaugu ...
and the Bally's Dover
Bally's Dover Casino Resort, formerly Dover Downs, is a hotel, casino, and racetrack complex in Dover, Delaware. It has a Harness racing, harness horse racing track, which is surrounded by Dover Motor Speedway, a concrete track used for NASCA ...
hotel, casino, and harness racetrack; this intersection has no access from northbound US 13 to southbound US 13 Alt. The portion of the route between North State Street/Walker Road and the northern terminus at US 13 in Dover is part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a Delaware Byway.[ US 13 Alt. has an ]annual average daily traffic
Annual average daily traffic (AADT) is a measure used primarily in transportation planning, transportation engineering and retail location selection. Traditionally, it is the total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided ...
count ranging from a high of 14,324 vehicles at the northern terminus at US 13 to a low of 5,311 vehicles at the Walker Road intersection.[
State Street through Dover was originally designated as part of US 13 in 1926, while Governors Avenue became part of a realigned US 13 in 1930 after it was reconstructed.] In 1937, the narrow crossing of Silver Lake was replaced with a new, wider bridge. In April 1952, US 13 was shifted to a divided highway bypass to the east of downtown Dover. US 13 Alt. was designated onto the former alignment of US 13 through downtown Dover by 1959.
Major intersections
Wilmington business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is an [ ]business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 that runs through the heart of the city of Wilmington in New Castle County
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex). As of the 2020 census, the population was 570,719, making it the most populous county in Delaware, with nearly 60% of the ...
, Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
, where US 13 bypasses downtown Wilmington to the east, running near Interstate 495 (I-495) and the Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...
. US 13 Bus. begins at US 13 at the southern border of Wilmington and heads north toward the downtown area, where it splits into a one-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or couplet refers to that portion of a bi-directional traffic facilitysuch as a road, bus, streetcar, or light rail linewhere its opposing flows exist as two independent and roughly parallel facilities.
Descriptio ...
. Past downtown, the business route heads through the northeastern part of the city on North Market Street before continuing through suburban Brandywine Hundred
Brandywine Hundred (also known as North Wilmington) is an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is located to the north and northeast of the city of Wilmington. Hundreds were once used as a basis for represen ...
on Philadelphia Pike. US 13 Bus. reaches its northern terminus at US 13 in Claymont. US 13 Bus. is a four-lane road for much of its length. The portion of the route between A Street and DE 9 (4th Street) in Wilmington is part of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, a Delaware Byway. The Philadelphia Pike was built in the 1820s and improved to a state highway by 1920. US 13 was designated to run through downtown Wilmington and along Philadelphia Pike in 1926. US 13 Bus. was designated in 1970 when US 13 was routed to bypass Wilmington along the former US 13 Alt.[
]
Wilmington alternate route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate (US 13 Alt.) was an alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Highway system and various stat ...
of US 13 located in the city of Wilmington in the state of Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
. The route served as an eastern bypass of the city. US 13 Alt. began at an intersection with US 13/ US 202 at the southern edge of the city of Wilmington, heading northeast on Heald Street. The route crossed a Reading Company
The Reading Company ( ) was a Philadelphia-headquartered railroad that provided passenger and freight transport in eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states from 1924 until its acquisition by Conrail in 1976.
Commonly called the Reading Railro ...
railroad line at-grade before it curved to the north-northeast and came to a bridge over a Penn Central Transportation Company
The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American Railroad classes, class I railroad that operated from 1968 to 1976. Penn Central combined three traditional corporate rivals, the Pennsylvania Railroad, ...
railroad line. US 13 Alt. came to an intersection with the northern terminus of DE 9 before it reached Christiana Avenue, where it turned northwest and crossed over the Christina River
The Christina River is a tributary of the Delaware River, approximately 35 miles (56 km) long, in northern Delaware. It also flows through small areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Maryland. Near its mouth, the river ...
on a drawbridge
A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable b ...
. At this point, the alternate route became 4th Street and passed under a Penn Central Transportation Company railroad line before it turned northeast onto the one-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or couplet refers to that portion of a bi-directional traffic facilitysuch as a road, bus, streetcar, or light rail linewhere its opposing flows exist as two independent and roughly parallel facilities.
Descriptio ...
of Church Street northbound and Spruce Street southbound. US 13 Alt. ran through the eastern portion of the city before both directions rejoined at 11th Street. The route headed northeast and passed over Brandywine Creek, becoming a divided highway called Northeast Boulevard that ran through more of Wilmington. The road curved east and left Wilmington, becoming Governor Printz Boulevard and passing through the community of Edgemoor. Here, US 13 Alt. turned northeast and ran parallel to a Penn Central Transportation Company railroad line and the Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...
, both to the east of the route. The road continued past Holly Oak Holly oak is a name that has been used for species of oak (''Quercus'') with spiny leaf margins, and may refer to:
*''Quercus coccifera'', more often called kermes oak
*''Quercus ilex
''Quercus ilex'', the holly oak, also (ambiguously, as many o ...
before it reached Claymont. Here, US 13 Alt. turned northwest and came to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13.
Plans were made in 1918 for a bypass to the east of downtown Wilmington for through traffic, avoiding Market Street. The bypass would utilize Heald, Church, and Spruce streets and would construct Northeast Boulevard heading northeast from the Eleventh Street Bridge. The bypass was needed as Philadelphia Pike had steep grades that were difficult for trucks at the time. In 1934, the state highway department began work on this bypass. Among them was the improvement of Church and Spruce streets by widening and paving them. In addition, the Northeast Boulevard was built, running from the Eleventh Street Bridge over the Brandywine Creek northeast to Edgemoor Road in Edgemoor. Construction began this year on an extension of the road northeast to Holly Oak. The following year, the Northeast Boulevard was completed between Edgemoor and Holly Oak. The construction of the Northeast Boulevard led to increased residential and industrial development along the route. In the later part of 1936, construction began on the portion of the Wilmington bypass along Heald Street along with Northeast Boulevard (renamed Governor Printz Boulevard) between Holly Oak and Claymont. Both of these projects were finished in late 1937 and completed a bypass of the portion of US 13 through Wilmington. This bypass route was designated as US 13 Alt. in 1939. In 1939, construction was authorized to widen Governor Printz Boulevard into a divided highway. The widening of the road to a divided highway was completed in 1940. In 1942, a bridge was completed on Heald Street that eliminated the grade crossing with a Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...
line. US 13 Alt. was widened to four lanes between 11th Street and 30th Street in Wilmington in 1956. In 1970, US 13 was rerouted to bypass downtown Wilmington on the US 13 Alt. alignment while US 13 Bus. was designated onto the former US 13 alignment from the southern border of Wilmington to Claymont.
Major intersections
Marcus Hook bypass route
U.S. Route 13 Bypass (US 13 Byp.) was a bypass of a portion of US 13 between Claymont, Delaware
Claymont is a census-designated place (CDP) in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population of Claymont was 9,895.
History
The community now known as Claymont started on the banks of Naamans Creek where i ...
and Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area (also known as the Delaware Valley) on the western bank of the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. ...
, bypassing Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Marcus Hook is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,397 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The current mayor is Gene Taylor. The boroug ...
. The bypass route split from US 13 in Claymont, heading northwest on Naamans Road (present-day DE 92) before turning northeast onto Ridge Road. The road crossed into Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
and continued along Ridge Road through Lower Chichester Township, passing through the community of Linwood Linwood may refer to:
Places
Many of the place names for Linwood come from the presence of linden trees. Australia
* Linwood, South Australia
*Linnwood, Guildford, 11-35 Byron Road, Guildford, New South Wales
Canada
* Linwood, Ontario
* Linwood, ...
, where it intersected PA 452. The bypass then continued through Trainer. US 13 Byp. continued into Chester and became 9th Street, ending at US 13 at the intersection of 9th Street and Highland Avenue at which point US 13 continued along 9th Street. Pennsylvania Route 891 (PA 891) was designated to run between the Delaware border and US 13 in Chester along Ridge Road and 9th Street by 1940. US 13 Byp. was designated by 1950, replacing the PA 891 designation in Pennsylvania.[ US 13 Byp. was decommissioned in the 1960s.]
Major intersections
Chester business loop
U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Bus.) is a business route
A business route (or business loop, business spur, or city route) in the United States is a short special route that branches off a parent numbered highway at its beginning, continues through the central business district of a nearby city or to ...
of US 13 in Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area (also known as the Delaware Valley) on the western bank of the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. ...
, that follows the former alignment of US 13 along Post Road, 4th Street, Highland Avenue, and 9th Street between US 13 and PA 291 in Trainer and US 13 at Morton Avenue in Chester. US 13 Bus. begins at an intersection with US 13 and the western terminus of PA 291 in the borough of Trainer, heading northeast along two-lane undivided Post Road. The road continues through urban residential and industrial areas as it enters the city of Chester, where the road name becomes West 4th Street. US 13 Bus. passes near urban homes and businesses, turning northwest onto Highland Avenue. The route passes under Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor (NEC) is an electrified railroad line in the Northeast megalopolis of the United States. Owned primarily by Amtrak, it runs from Boston in the north to Washington, D.C., in the south, with major stops in Providence, Rhod ...
railroad line east of Highland Avenue station serving SEPTA
SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly four million people througho ...
's Wilmington/Newark Line
The Wilmington/Newark Line is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail commuter rail system in the Philadelphia area. The line serves southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, with stations in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, Wilmington, Delaware, and ...
before running past more homes and turning northeast onto West 9th Street. US 13 Bus. continues through urban neighborhoods and passes the former Community Hospital of Chester. The route comes to a partial interchange with the US 322 freeway providing access to and from the Commodore Barry Bridge
The Commodore Barry Bridge (also known as the Commodore John Barry Bridge or John Barry Bridge) is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River from Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport, New Jersey, in Logan Township. It is named after ...
over the Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...
. Following this, the road continues past urban residences and businesses, passing south of Chester High School and crossing Chester Creek
Chester Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Delaware River in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ...
. Past this, the name of the road changes to East 9th Street. US 13 Bus. reaches a junction with the southern terminus of PA 352 and Avenue of the States and continues northeast to intersect PA 320, which is routed on the one-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or couplet refers to that portion of a bi-directional traffic facilitysuch as a road, bus, streetcar, or light rail linewhere its opposing flows exist as two independent and roughly parallel facilities.
Descriptio ...
of Madison Street northbound and Upland Street southbound. The route reaches its northern terminus at US 13 at Morton Avenue.
In November 2020, the approved the realignment of US 13 through Chester along PA 291 and Morton Avenue and the establishment of US 13 Bus. along the former alignment of US 13. Sign changes were completed on February 11, 2022.
Major intersections
Chester bypass route
U.S. Route 13 Bypass (US 13 Byp.) was a bypass of US 13 between Chester
Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...
and Collingdale in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County, colloquially referred to as Delco, is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With a population of 576,830 as of the 2020 census, it is the List of counties in Pennsylv ...
. The route began at US 13 in Chester, heading north on Kerlin Street. US 13 Byp. crossed the Chester Creek
Chester Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of the Delaware River in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ...
into Upland
Upland or Uplands may refer to:
Geography
*Hill, an area of higher land, generally
*Highland, an area of higher land divided into low and high points
*Upland and lowland, conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level
*I ...
, where it turned east onto Upland Avenue, heading northeast back into Chester. Upon crossing PA 352, the bypass route headed east on 22nd Street, intersecting PA 320 before crossing the Ridley Creek
Ridley Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Chester and Delaware counties, Pennsylvania in the United States.Gertler, Edward. ''Keystone Canoeing'', Seneca Press, 2004.
The entire drainage basin is in the suburban Philadelphia area, bu ...
out of Chester. Here, US 13 Byp. continued northeast along MacDade Boulevard through suburban areas. The route crossed PA 420 north of Prospect Park Prospect Park may refer to:
Businesses
* Prospect Park (production company), entertainment production company
*Prospect Park Productions NZ, theatre company based in Dunedin, New Zealand
Places New Zealand
* Prospect Park, New Zealand, a portion ...
before it reached its northern terminus at an intersection with US 13 in Collingdale. Pennsylvania Route 520 (PA 520) was first designated by 1930 to follow 22nd Street and MacDade Boulevard between PA 352 in Chester and US 13 in Darby. US 13 Byp. was designated in the 1940s, replacing the PA 520 designation along 22nd Street and MacDade Boulevard. US 13 Byp. was decommissioned in the 1960s.
Major intersections
Philadelphia bypass route
U.S. Route 13 Bypass (US 13 Byp.) was a bypass of a portion of US 13 in Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. It split from US 13 in Darby, Delaware County. The route headed north on Main Street before becoming Lansdowne Avenue and running through Yeadon, Lansdowne, and Upper Darby Township. In Llanerch
Llanerch is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Haverford Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Llanerch is located at the inter ...
, US 13 Byp. turned northeast to form a concurrency
Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:
Law
* Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea''
* Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...
with US 1 on Township Line Road and crossing PA 3. The two routes continued northeast and became City Avenue, forming the border between Montgomery County to the northwest and Philadelphia to the southeast. Along City Avenue, the bypass route intersected US 30 Byp. (Haverford Road/Avenue), US 30, and PA 23 (Conshohocken State Road/Conshohocken Avenue). At an interchange with I-80S, US 1 split from US 13 Byp. and US 13 Byp. crossed the Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river in eastern Pennsylvania. It flows for U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map(). accessed April 1, 2011. from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Pottsville ...
and fully entered Philadelphia. Here, the route came to an interchange with US 422 ( Ridge Avenue) and Lincoln Drive and ran east along East River Drive to reach its northern terminus at an intersection with US 1/US 13 (Hunting Park Avenue) in the Hunting Park section of the city. US 13 Byp. was first designated by 1940, where it followed Main Street and Lansdowne Avenue to Llanerch, where it picked up a concurrency with US 1 Byp. and continued northeast along Township Line Road, City Avenue, East River Drive, Hunting Park Avenue, and Roosevelt Boulevard to Levick Street, where US 13 Byp. ended and US 13 continued along Levick Street. By 1950, the northern terminus of US 13 Byp. was cut back to Broad Street along Roosevelt Boulevard, being replaced by mainline US 13 north of there. The northern terminus was further scaled back to Hunting Park Avenue and East River Drive by 1960, with more of mainline US 13 replacing the bypass designation. Also by this time, the US 1 Byp. concurrency was removed, with mainline US 1 running concurrent with US 13 Byp. on Township Line Road, City Avenue, and East River Drive. US 13 Byp. was decommissioned in the 1960s.
Major intersections
Bensalem Township alternate truck route
U.S. Route 13 Alternate Truck (US 13 Alt. Truck) is a truck route
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport freight, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
around a weight-restricted bridge on US 13 over the St. Francis Creek in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania
Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township borders the northeastern section of Philadelphia and includes the communities of Andalusia, Bensalem, Bridgewater, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, Flush ...
, on which trucks over and combination loads over are prohibited. The route follows PA 132, PA 513, Gibson Road, and Bensalem Boulevard. US 13 Alt. Truck was signed in 2013.
References
{{Authority control
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U.S. Route 13