 At this point, DE 896 turns west to join DE 4 on the four-lane divided Christiana Parkway, passing to the south of the University of Delaware's Science, Technology, and Advanced Research campus. The road narrows into a three-lane undivided road with two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane, curving to the northwest and coming to a bridge over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad line. Christiana Parkway comes to an intersection with the eastern terminus of DE 279, where DE 4 ends and DE 896 continues northeast on Elkton Road. DE 896 becomes a four-lane divided highway that heads into residential areas. The road changes names to South Main Street and becomes undivided as it passes businesses before reaching downtown Newark.
