The 14 mi.-long U.S. 301 mainline will improve safety and reduce congestion.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that the new U.S. 301 mainline has opened to traffic on Jan. 10, 2019.

The 14 mi.-long U.S. 301 mainline will improve safety and reduce congestion with the bypassing of 29 at-grade intersections, 18 of which are signalized, and numerous driveways with direct access to existing U.S. 301. The existing U.S. 301 will be converted to a local roadway, with truck restrictions in place except for local services.

"Opening the new U.S. 301 to traffic is an important milestone in what has been a decades-long effort to address the safety and congestion issues created by the existing roadway," said Gov. John Carney. "This new road will only enhance our economic development efforts for businesses that are looking to grow and move their goods around Delaware and beyond as efficiently possible."

"I would like to thank our contractors and subcontractors who worked through one of the wettest construction seasons on record to move this project forward, and it is impressive that less than three years after groundbreaking we are now putting traffic on the new U.S. 301," said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan. "Work will continue to complete the entire project in 2019, and we look forward to having a formal opening event to celebrate this project."

The new U.S. 301 mainline is the first road in Delaware to use all electronic tolling, and tolling is active with users paying via their E-ZPass or being billed in the mail. For two axle vehicles using E-ZPass and traveling the entire road, the toll is $4, and $5.60 for those without E-ZPass.

Ground was broken for the U.S. 301 project on Feb. 5, 2016. The project is partially funded by a $211 million U.S. Department of Transportation loan that will be paid back through toll collections on the highway. The total cost of the project, including land purchases and the maintenance of a reserve fund, is estimated at $636 million.

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