Smyrna times., 1931-01-14
PLAN ANOTHER HIGHWAY
WILMINGTON TO PENN LINE
TO BE KNOWN AS NORTHEAST
OR INDUSTRIAL HIGHWAY"
Would Extend Along the Delaware
River Most of Way and Would
Relieve Traffic on the Pike

The proposed northeast boule-
ward from the Eleventh street
bridge, Wilmington, to the Will
mington city line and the proposed
industrial highway from the Will
mington city line to Pennsylvania
will not be started in time to aid
the immediate unemployment
problem. Neither the Street and
Sewer Department nor the State
Highway Department feel that the
work will be started at least for
few more months. In his annual
report to the Legislature w. W.
Mack, chief engineer of the State
Highway Department recommends
the building of the industrial high
way by the State. It is also the
desire of the Street and Sewer De
partment of Wilmington to go
ahead as soon as possible with the
building of the boulevard. So far
the State has not taken any official
action to obtain the right of way.
This detail would require consider
able time because the State might
be forced to obtain some of the
right of way through condemna-
ton proceedings which would have
to pass possibly through the
courts. The industrial highway, as
recommended by Mr.. Mack, would
run from the end of the northeast
boulevard to Claymont. Leaving
the Wilmington city line the pro-
posed highway would cross She'll
pot Creek, and through the Sellers
estate to a point near the Edge
Moor station At this point it
would be close to the railroad
tracks. After leaving this point,
it would leave the tracks and run
about midway between the Phila-
delphia pike and the tracks, pass
ing through Gordon Heights, Belle
fonte, Cragmere and to Bellevue
station From short distance
north of Bellevue station, the road
would run parallel with the tracks
again to where it would merge
with the Philadelphia pike near
the State line. For the entire dis
tance, the road would be practi-
cally level, and would be in direct
contrast with the Philadelphia
pike which has a number of hills
that impede traffic in bad weather.
At the same time it would relieve
congestion on the pike and motor
ist driving on the new thorough
fare would be afforded an excellent
view of the Delaware River at all
times. 1t has also been suggested
that if the State decides to go
ahead with the building of the
highway, as recommended by Mr..
Mack, a dual highway would be
most practical. This type of sys-
tenn is now in use in the State and
is favored by the highway depart
ment. Bids are expected to be ad-
vertised for by the New Castle
County Levy Court within the next
three months for the construction
of the new Eleventh street bridge.
The bridge has been approved by
the War Department. The Levy
Court has authorized the county
engineer to prepare plans for the
new bridge preparatory to adver-
tising for bids. The completion of
the industrial highway and the
northeast boulevard would detour
traffic going north at the end of
the Causeway by bringing it
through South Heald street to
Christiana avenue and over the
river front bridge to Fourth and
Church street, to the new bridge
at Eleventh street. This part of
the industrial highway is now OPP
Grated to the Eleventh street
bridge, it being used during the
construction of the South Market