DE 16 begins at the Maryland border in the community of Hickman in Kent County, where the road continues west into that state as MD 16. From the state line, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Hickman Road, passing through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes. The road crosses Marshyhope Creek in the community of Adamsville and enters Sussex County, curving to the southeast. DE 16 comes to an intersection with DE 36, at which point it turns east to form a concurrency with that route. The road enters the town of Greenwood and becomes Market Street, passing several homes along with a few businesses. The highway crosses the Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line at-grade before it intersects US 13 on the eastern edge of Greenwood. Past this intersection, DE 16/DE 36 leaves Greenwood and becomes Beach Highway, crossing the Nanticoke River.[3][4]
DE 16 westbound past US 113 near Ellendale
In Saint Johnstown, the road becomes a divided highway and DE 36 splits from DE 16 by heading to the northeast on Shawnee Road. DE 16 soon becomes undivided again and continues east through agricultural areas and woods with some residences, crossing Toms Dam Branch and running through the community of Owens. Farther east, the road passes through the community of Oakley and crosses West Branch Gum Branch and then Gum Branch. The route comes to an intersection with US 113 near a few businesses, where it is briefly a divided highway. Past this intersection, the name changes to Milton Ellendale Highway and the two-lane undivided road enters the town of Ellendale, where it becomes Main Street. In Ellendale, DE 16 runs past several homes, crossing the Delmarva Central Railroad's Indian River Subdivision line at-grade. The road leaves the town and becomes Milton Ellendale Highway again, turning southeast. The route heads through woodland and farms, running immediately to the north of the Delmarva Central Railroad's Milton Industrial Track line. DE 16 turns east away from the railroad tracks and comes to an intersection with DE 30. At this point, DE 5 Alternate (DE 5 Alt.), which runs south along DE 30, heads east concurrent with DE 16. The road reaches the town of Milton, where it passes homes and businesses. DE 16 comes to an intersection with DE 5, where DE 5 Alt. ends and the road name changes to Broadkill Road. The route leaves Milton and continues into farmland with a few residences, turning to the northeast. The road intersects DE 1 and passes north of a golf course before it runs through a mix of farms and woods with some homes. DE 16 turns east and northeast through marshland within the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge before crossing Broadkill Sound and reaching the community of Broadkill Beach. Here, the route intersects Bay Shore Drive before ending at a dead end on the Delaware Bay.[3][4]
What is now DE 16 originally existed as a county road by 1920.[9] By 1924, the section of road in Greenwood was constructed as a state highway.[10] A year later, the route between the Dupont Highway and Ellendale became a state highway.[11] In 1929, the road was completed as a state highway between Ellendale and Milton.[12] A year later, the state highway was built between Owens and Ellendale.[13] The entire road west of Milton was finished as a state highway by 1931.[14] By 1936, DE 16 was designated to run from the Maryland border east to Broadkill Beach along its current alignment.[2] The portion of route east of DE 14 (present-day DE 1) was paved by 1942.[15] In 2019, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) began the Coastal Corridors Study to study east-west traffic patterns on roads in northern Sussex County including DE 16.[16] The study is intended to develop long-term road improvements along the corridor. In March 2021, five virtual workshops on the study were held to present collected data and gather input from the public.[17]
On June 21, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of construction of an interchange with DE 1 east of Milton, with Governor John Carney, DelDOT secretary Nicole Majeski, and state and local officials in attendance.[18] Construction of the interchange at DE 1 is planned to be completed in the later part of 2025.[18][19] Another interchange is planned with US 113 as part of improving that highway; this plan is in the design phase.[20] There are plans to construct a roundabout at the DE 30 intersection near Milton in order to reduce crashes at the intersection. Construction of the roundabout is planned for 2025.[21]
^ abDelaware State Highway Department; The National Survey Co. (1936). Official Road Map of the State of Delaware(PDF) (Map) (1936–1937 ed.). Dover: Delaware State Highway Department. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ abDelaware Department of Transportation (2017). Official Travel & Transportation Map(PDF) (Map). Dover: Delaware Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
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