{{short description|State highway in New Castle County, Delaware, United States}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{good article}} {{Infobox road |state=DE |type=DE |route=273 |map={{maplink-road}} |map_custom=yes |length_mi=12.66 |length_round=2 |length_ref=<ref name=DelDOT>{{cite web |author= Staff |title= Traffic Count and Mileage Report: Interstate, Delaware, and US Routes |publisher= Delaware Department of Transportation |year= 2018 |url= https://deldot.gov/Publications/manuals/traffic_counts/pdfs/2018/2018Interstate_USRoutes_DelawareRoutes.pdf?cache=1585496964656 |format= PDF |access-date= March 29, 2020}}</ref> |maint=DelDOT |established=1936<ref name="DE 1936 map"/> |tourist=Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route |direction_a=West |direction_b=East |terminus_a={{jct|state=MD|MD|273}} near Newark |junction={{plainlist| *{{jct|state=DE|DE|896}} in Newark *{{jct|state=DE|DE|2|DE|72}} in Newark *{{jct|state=DE|DE|4}} near Ogletown *{{jct|state=DE|I|95}} near Christiana *{{jct|state=DE|DE|7}} near Christiana *{{jct|state=DE|DE|1}} near Christiana *{{jct|state=DE|DE|37}} in Pleasantville *{{jct|state=DE|DE|58}} near Hares Corner *{{jct|state=DE|US|13|US|40}} at Hares Corner }} |terminus_b={{jct|state=DE|DE|9|DE|141}} in New Castle |counties=New Castle |previous_type=DE |previous_route=261 |next_type=DE |next_route=279}}
'''Delaware Route 273''' ('''DE 273''') is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The route runs from Maryland Route 273 (MD 273) at the Maryland border near Newark east to DE 9 and DE 141 in New Castle. The route heads through suburban areas between Newark and New Castle as a multilane road, passing through Ogletown and Christiana. DE 273 intersects DE 896 in downtown Newark; DE 2/DE 72 on the eastern edge of Newark; DE 4 in Ogletown; Interstate 95 (I-95), DE 7, and DE 1 in Christiana; DE 37 in Pleasantville; and DE 58 and U.S. Route 13 (US 13)/US 40 in Hares Corner.
What is now DE 273 was originally built as a state highway in the 1920s and 1930s, with the portion east of Hares Corner becoming a part of US 40, which had crossed the Delaware River on a ferry between New Castle and Pennsville, New Jersey. DE 273 was designated by 1936 to run from the Maryland border near Newark east to Hares Corner. In the 1950s, the route was extended east to New Castle when US 40 was realigned to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. DE 273 was moved onto new alignments around Christiana in the 1980s and through Ogletown in the 1990s.
==Route description== thumb|left|DE 273 westbound/DE 896 northbound along West Main Street in Newark approaching South Main Street DE 273 begins at the Maryland border west of the city of Newark, where the road continues west into that state as MD 273. From the state line, the route heads southeast on two-lane undivided Nottingham Road, running through wooded suburban neighborhoods as it enters Newark, crossing the Christina River and passing to the south of the Newark Country Club. DE 273 becomes West Main Street as it approaches the downtown area, intersecting the southbound direction of DE 896, at which point DE 273 forms a concurrency with southbound DE 896. The road crosses CSX's Philadelphia Subdivision railroad line at-grade and comes to an intersection with New London Road, which runs northwest as northbound DE 896, and South Main Street, which heads southwest as DE 896.<ref name="DE 2017 map"/><ref name="google"/>
At this point, DE 273 splits into the one-way pair of West Delaware Avenue eastbound and West Main Street westbound, with eastbound DE 273 briefly following one-way South Main Street southwest to get from West Main Street to West Delaware Avenue. The one-way pair, which carries two lanes in each direction, becomes concurrent with northbound DE 896 in both directions until the South College Avenue intersection. DE 273 runs through the University of Delaware campus and continues through the downtown as East Delaware Avenue eastbound and East Main Street westbound. Farther east, the one-way pair crosses the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail and passes the Newark Transit Hub serving DART First State buses, which is located between East Main Street and East Delaware Avenue. East Delaware Avenue shifts farther to the south of East Main Street, with the one-way streets running between a residential neighborhood and East Delaware Avenue heading to the north of Newark High School. Past here, the route comes to an intersection with DE 2/DE 72. At this point, eastbound DE 273 turns north to join DE 72 on four-lane divided Library Avenue to rejoin westbound DE 273.<ref name="DE 2017 map">{{Delaware road map|year=2017|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name="google">{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=DE+273+and+MD+273&daddr=DE+273+and+DE+9&hl=en&geocode=FTOzXQIdz457-ykhF3FD66vHiTGXvQL84zTUfQ%3BFdg6XQIddfx--ylfIYVqcgPHiTGpk4IiETccpg&mra=ls&sll=39.611215,-75.71771&sspn=0.241217,0.676346&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=12|title=overview of Delaware Route 273|access-date=February 7, 2011}}</ref>
thumb|right|DE 273 eastbound past DE 2/DE 72 in Newark Past DE 2/DE 72, DE 273 leaves Newark and heads east on Ogletown Road, a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane that passes through commercial areas, soon becoming a four-lane divided highway. The route continues east and has an intersection with Ruthar Drive, with an eastbound jughandle for U-turns at the intersection. Past here, the road comes to a bridge over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad line. The route turns southeast and reaches an interchange with DE 4 and Salem Church Road in the community of Ogletown. Past this interchange, DE 273 becomes Christiana Road and heads east through suburban residential neighborhoods with some businesses. The road bends southeast again as it comes to a modified cloverleaf interchange with I-95 (Delaware Turnpike). Following this, the route heads into commercial areas, bypassing the community of Christiana to the southwest. DE 273 runs south through wooded areas and intersects Old Baltimore Pike before crossing the Christina River and curving east, coming to a junction with DE 7. A park and ride lot is located at the northeast corner of this intersection. A short distance later, the road reaches a diamond interchange with the DE 1 freeway.<ref name="DE 2017 map"/><ref name="google"/>
Following this interchange, DE 273 heads through woods before entering areas of suburban homes and businesses, coming to a junction with the southern terminus of DE 37 in Pleasantville. The route continues east and intersects the eastern terminus of DE 58 near the Wilmington Airport. A short distance later, the road comes to a junction with US 13/US 40 in Hares Corner.<ref name="DE 2017 map"/><ref name="google"/>
Past this intersection, DE 273 becomes concurrent with DE 9 Truck and turns into two-lane undivided Frenchtown Road, with a multi-use trail parallel to the north. The road enters the city of New Castle and heads east between business parks and warehouses to the south and farm fields to the north. DE 273 comes to an intersection with DE 9 and the southern terminus of DE 141 to the west of the center of New Castle, where the route, along with DE 9 Truck, ends.<ref name="google"/> Past the eastern terminus, the road continues east as part of DE 9.<ref name="DE 2017 map"/> Some signage for DE 273, including an end sign at East 6th Street, does still exist east of its formal terminus.<ref name="google"/>
The section of DE 273 between Chapman Road and Browns Lane in Christiana is part of the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a National Historic Trail.<ref name=nht>{{cite web|url=http://deldot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=4f87a8b8545e43ae958013767eaf3955|title=Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route|publisher=Delaware Department of Transportation|access-date=April 7, 2018}}</ref> DE 273 has an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 49,421 vehicles at the I-95 interchange to a low of 6,924 vehicles at the Hillside Road intersection in Newark.<ref name=DelDOT/> The portion of DE 273 east of DE 896 is part of the National Highway System.<ref name="NHS">{{cite map|publisher=Federal Highway Administration|title=National Highway System: Delaware|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/delaware/de_delaware.pdf|year=2010|format=PDF|access-date=February 10, 2012}}</ref>
==History== thumb|left|DE 273 eastbound past DE 37 in Pleasantville What is now DE 273 originally existed as a county road by 1920.<ref name="DE 1920 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1920|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> Four years later, the portion of road through Newark was upgraded to a state highway while the road was paved between Hares Corner and New Castle.<ref name="DE 1924 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1924|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> A year later, the section between Ogletown and Christiana was planned as a state highway while the section east of Basin Road was upgraded to a state highway.<ref name="DE 1925 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1925|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> In 1930, the road between the Maryland border and Newark was built as a state highway, providing a shorter route to the Conowingo Dam in Maryland.<ref name="1930 report">{{cite journal|title=Annual Report of the State Highway Department|edition=1930|page=19|publisher=Delaware State Highway Department|location=Dover, Delaware|date=December 31, 1930|url=http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1930/annual_1930_chief.pdf|access-date=November 14, 2014|journal=|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721035421/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1930/annual_1930_chief.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, US 40 was designated to run on the portion of road between Hares Corner and New Castle, where it connected to a ferry across the Delaware River to Pennsville, New Jersey. Also by this time, all of present-day DE 273 was upgraded to a state highway except the portion of US 40 between Hares Corner and the Basin Road intersection in New Castle.<ref name="DE 1931 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1931|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> In 1934, recommendations were made to upgrade US 40 to a state highway between Hares Corner and New Castle.<ref name="1934 report">{{cite journal|title=Annual Report of the State Highway Department|edition=1934|pages=37, 68|publisher=Delaware State Highway Department|location=Dover, Delaware|date=January 1, 1935|url=http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1934/annual_1934_chief.pdf|access-date=November 10, 2014|archive-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512202044/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1934/annual_1934_chief.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The portion of US 40 between Hares Corner and New Castle was taken over by the state on July 1, 1935.<ref name="DE 1936 map"/><ref name="1935 report">{{cite journal|title=Annual Report of the State Highway Department of the State of Delaware|edition=1935|page=7|publisher=Delaware State Highway Department|location=Dover, DE|date=January 7, 1936|url=http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1935/annual_1935_chief.pdf|format=PDF|access-date=November 19, 2014|archive-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512202117/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1935/annual_1935_chief.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Construction on upgrading this section began in 1936, with the project completed later that year.<ref name="1936 report">{{cite journal|title=Annual Report of the State Highway Department|edition=1936|pages=19–21|publisher=Delaware State Highway Department|location=Dover, Delaware|date=January 20, 1937|url=http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1936/annual_1936_chief.pdf|access-date=November 10, 2014|archive-date=July 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712094036/http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1936/annual_1936_chief.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="DE 1936 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1936|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> The same year, a bridge was constructed over a Pennsylvania Railroad line (now the Jack A. Markell Trail) in New Castle.<ref name="1936 report"/>
thumb|right|DE 273 eastbound at DE 1 near Christiana DE 273 was designated to run from the Maryland border west of Newark east to US 13 and US 40 in Hares Corner by 1936, roughly following its current alignment. In Newark, the route ran concurrent with DE 2.<ref name="DE 1936 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1936|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> By 1952, US 40 was realigned to use the Delaware Memorial Bridge to cross the Delaware River, and DE 273 was extended east along the former alignment of US 40 on Frenchtown Road, Delaware Street, and Ferry Cut Off Street to end at present-day DE 9 at 6th Street in New Castle.<ref name="DE 1952 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1952|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> In 1956, DE 2 and DE 273 were routed onto the one-way pair of Delaware Avenue eastbound and Main Street westbound in downtown Newark following an eastward extension of Delaware Avenue to the intersection between DE 2 and DE 273 east of the city.<ref name="1956 report">{{cite journal|title=Report of the State Highway Department|edition=1956|page=11|publisher=Delaware State Highway Department|location=Dover, Delaware|date=July 1, 1956|url=http://www.deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1956/annual_1956_chief.pdf|format=PDF|access-date=November 12, 2014|journal=|archive-date=January 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107104429/http://deldot.gov/archaeology/historic_pres/annual_reports/pdf/1956/annual_1956_chief.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
By 1984, DE 9 was realigned to follow DE 273 east of the DE 141 intersection.<ref name="DE 1984 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1984|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> DE 273 was realigned to bypass Christiana a year later, having previously followed Main Street through the community.<ref name="DE 1985 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1985|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> DE 2 was routed to bypass Newark and DE 2 Bus. became concurrent with DE 273 through Newark by 1990.<ref name="DE 1990 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1990|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref> In 1997, DE 273 was moved to its current alignment in the Ogletown area, eliminating a short concurrency with DE 4 and involving the construction of an interchange with that route. The former alignment of DE 273 through Ogletown is known as Ogletown Road.<ref name="DE 1997 map">{{Delaware road map|year=1997|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NBI 1997">{{NBI|structurenumber=1286W018}}</ref> The concurrent DE 2 Bus. designation was eliminated in 2013 as part of simplifying the route numbers in Newark.<ref name="Proposed Route Designation Changes in Newark">{{cite web|last=Shannon|first=Josh|title=A route to less clutter: DelDOT to consolidate Newark route numbers|url=http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_081d2586-e14b-11e2-94de-001a4bcf887a.html|work=Newark Post|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> By 2015, DE 273 signage was cut back to its current eastern terminus, removing the concurrency with DE 9.<ref name="google"/>
On March 15, 2021, a construction project began that will improve the interchange between DE 273 and I-95 by realigning ramps and widening DE 273 through the interchange.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Traffic Alert - Highway Safety Improvements Project, Route 273 and I-95 Interchange Improvements Project to Begin|publisher=Delaware Department of Transportation|date=March 4, 2021|url=https://deldot.gov/About/news/index.shtml?dc=release&id=8513&type=Traffic|access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref> Construction on this interchange improvement is planned to be completed in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Project: HSIP NCC, SR 273 and I-95 Interchange Improvement|publisher=Delaware Department of Transportation|url=https://deldot.gov/projects/index.shtml?dc=details&projectNumber=T200800713|access-date=April 28, 2023}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name=DelDOT/>|state=DE|county=New Castle}} {{DEint |location=Newark |lspan=6 |mile=0.00 |road={{jct|state=MD|MD|273|dir1=west|name1=Telegraph Road}} |notes=Maryland state line; western terminus }} {{DEint |mile=1.74 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|896|dir1=south|name1=North Hillside Road}} |notes=Southbound direction of DE 896; west end of DE 896 southbound overlap }} {{DEint |mile=1.85 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|896|name1=South Main Street/New London Road|to2=to|I|95}} |notes=East end of DE 896 southbound overlap; west end of DE 896 northbound overlap }} {{DEint |mile=2.04 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|896|dir1=north|name1=South College Avenue}} |notes=Northbound direction of DE 896; east end of DE 896 northbound overlap }} {{DEint |mile=3.03 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|72|dir1=south|name1=Library Avenue}} |notes=West end of eastbound overlap with DE 72 }} {{DEint |mile=3.23 |type=concur |road={{Jct|state=DE|DE|2|dir1=east|DE|72|dir2=north|name2=Capitol Trail}} |notes=East end of eastbound overlap with DE 72; western terminus of DE 2 }} {{DEint |location=Ogletown |mile= |road={{Jct|state=DE|DE|4|name1=Chestnut Hill Road/Ogletown Stanton Road|road|Salem Church Road|city1=South Newark|city2=Churchmans Crossing}} |notes=Interchange }} {{DEint |location=Christiana |lspan=3 |mile=6.99 |road={{Jct|state=DE|I|95|name1=Delaware Turnpike|city1=Delaware Memorial Bridge|city2=Wilmington|city3=Newark|location4=Baltimore}} |notes=I-95 exit 3 }} {{DEint |mile=8.57 |road={{Jct|state=DE|DE|7|name1=East Main Street/Bear Christiana Road|city1=Christiana}} |notes= }} {{DEint |mile= |road={{Jct|state=DE|DE|1|to2=to|DE|7|dir2=north|I|95|US|13|city1=Churchmans Crossing|city2=Stanton|city3=Dover}} |notes=DE 1 exit 162 }} {{DEint |location=Pleasantville |mile=9.45 |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|37|dir1=north|name1=Airport Road}} |notes=Southern terminus of DE 37 }} {{DEint |location=Hares Corner |lspan=2 |mile=10.95 |road={{Jct|state=DE|DE|58|dir1=west|name1=Churchmans Road}} |notes=Eastern terminus of DE 58 }} {{DEint |mile=11.31 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|US|13|US|40|DE-Truck|9|dir3=south|name3=Dupont Highway}} |notes=West end of DE 9 Truck overlap }} {{DEint |location=New Castle |mile=12.66 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=DE|DE|9|name1=Washington Street/Delaware Street}}<br />{{jct|state=DE|DE|141|dir1=north|name1=Basin Road}}<br />{{jct|state=DE|DE-Truck|9|dir1=ends}} |notes=Eastern terminus; southern terminus of DE 141; northern terminus of DE 9 Truck }} {{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==See also== *{{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}} {{commons category}} * [https://www.aaroads.com/guides/de-273/ DE 273 at AARoads.com] * [https://www.alpsroads.net/roads/de/de_273/ Delaware Roads - DE 273]
273 Category:Transportation in New Castle County, Delaware Category:U.S. Route 40