Delaware Route 20 - Route Description

Route Description

DE 20 begins at the Maryland border in Reliance, where the road continues west into that state as MD 392. From the state line, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Stein Highway through farmland with some woods and homes. The road crosses a Maryland and Delaware Railroad line and continues into Seaford, where it heads into industrial areas with some farm fields. DE 20 widens into a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane and passes through residential and commercial areas of the city. The road becomes a four-lane divided highway and comes to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Delmarva Secondary railroad line, turning back into a five-lane road. The route becomes a divided highway again as it intersects with Front Street/Bridgeville Highway. Past this intersection, DE 20 becomes Norman A. Eskridge Highway and heads northeast through more developed areas, reaching an intersection with US 13.

At this point, DE 20 turns south for a concurrency with US 13 on the four-lane divided Sussex Highway. The road crosses Williams Pond before passing through commercial areas and coming to a bridge over the Nanticoke River. Near Blades, DE 20 splits from US 13 by turning east on two-lane undivided Concord Road. The road passes through wooded residential neighborhoods, reaching the community of Concord. The route continues southeast through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes, curving to the east. DE 20 reaches the community of Hardscrabble and intersects US 9, at which point it is briefly a divided highway. Past this intersection, the name changes to Hardscrabble Road and the road becomes undivided again. The road heads southeast through agricultural and wooded areas with occasional residences, turning to the east. The route passes through more farmland and comes to an intersection with US 113 northwest of Millsboro.

DE 20 turns southeast to form a concurrency with US 113 on four-lane divided Dupont Boulevard, heading into Millsboro. The road passes through commercial areas, intersecting DE 24/DE 30. The two routes pass more businesses and a few homes before leaving Millsboro. DE 20 splits from US 113 by heading southeast on two-lane undivided Dagsboro Road. The road passes through wooded areas with some homes before heading into farmland and crossing Norfolk Southern's Indian River Secondary railroad line. The route enters Dagsboro and becomes Main Street, passing homes and a few businesses. DE 20 comes to an intersection with DE 26, at which point that route becomes concurrent with DE 20. The two routes pass through more residential areas, curving east and leaving town on Vines Creek Road.

Upon leaving Dagsboro, DE 20 splits from DE 26 by heading southeast on Armory Road. The road passes through agricultural areas with some woods and homes, reaching Omar. In Omar, the route intersects Omar Road and becomes Pyle Center Road. DE 20 continues through more rural areas, coming to an intersection with DE 17 in Roxana. Following this intersection, the route becomes Zion Church Road and passes through more farmland and woodland with some homes, crossing DE 54 Alt. Farther southeast, residential development near the road increases and it widens to four lanes. DE 20 comes to its eastern terminus at an intersection with DE 54 west of Fenwick Island.

DE 20 has an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 34,190 vehicles at the north end of Millsboro to a low of 3,030 vehicles at the Shiloh Church Road intersection between Hardscrabble and Millsboro. The portions of DE 20 concurrent with US 13 and US 113 are part of the National Highway System.