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County: Spans all 3
Length: 100 miles
Drive time: Approx. 2 hours
The Delaware Bayshore Byway, designated a National Scenic Byway in February 2021, has many individuals and communities, not-for-profit groups, and government entities at the local, state and federal levels that, working together, are responsible for its future.
Byway leadership has been consistent in the strategic direction initially developed in 2013. This direction incorporates a vision, mission, goals, and specific strategies. It was instrumental in creating the extension of the Byway and serves as the foundation for the 2020 Corridor Management Plan (CMP). All of the relevant documents are available below for download and review.
Direct responsibility for the Byway lies with the Byway Management Team. This team started as the Project Advisory Committee with the responsibility for developing the 2013 Corridor Management Plan. Many of the original stakeholders remain heavily involved, and membership in the Management Team evolves as the needs grow and change.
The Management Team coordinates directly with the Byway Management Committees of the Historic Lewes Byway, and the Harriett Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
Facilitated by Delaware Greenways, the Byway Management Team (BMT) includes representation from each Discovery Zone, leaders of key conservation, recreation, tourism not-for-profit organizations, state and local tourism offices and bureaus, and state agencies including DelDOT and DNREC.
Delaware Bayshore Byway designated as a National Scenic Byway in 2021, traverses a 157-mile corridor of wildlands, bucolic farmlands, and quaint river towns with coastal waterways everywhere, paralleling 100 miles of the Delaware River and Bay and passing through 19 Discovery Zones representing Delaware’s quieter, wilder side.
As an outstanding scenic motorized vehicle drive, it also offers many non-motorized travel and recreational options (pedestrian/bicycle/non-motorized watercraft) that are far lesser-known resulting from the lack of marketing information and common travel amenities like wayfinding and restrooms, leaving only experienced outdoors/sportspersons to take advantage of these diverse activity options.
First objective of the grant is to complete a Master Plan with two parts that will augment the existing Corridor Management Plan. (1) a Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan and (2) a Waterways/Paddling Plan, where both will inventory current and future non-motorized options, develop management strategies and recommendations, and provide a marketing package to effectively promote these options. Our second objective will enhance visitor amenities (restrooms and wayfinding) at two Byway communities: the Town of Bowers and the City of Milford
Read the FHWA Grant Awards List and the Press Release
Delaware Bayshore Byway Signage has been installed over the length of the corridor. Using GIS and route information the team worked with DelDOT Traffic and Planning and DNREC Fish and Wildlife to sign the byway route with Delaware Bayshore Byway Branding logo. Further steps include adding America’s Byway logos in conjunction with the signs that were installed over the past few years.
Additionally, the Delaware Bayshore Byway has released it standalone website with itineraries, attractions, destinations, and other important information. This website continues to support the Byway, marketing to travelers and users of the Bayshore Byway. There are many resources available that can be found at delawarebayshorebyway.org
In February 2021, the Delaware Bayshore Byway received National Scenic Byway Designation from the Federal Highway Administration. The Byway is now part of the America’s Byway program.
“America’s Byways®” is the umbrella term we use for the collection of 150 distinct and diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. They include the National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads (FHWA).”
This nationally recognized designation enhances travel tourism, sound economic development, education and preservation, and offers the opportunity for enhancement projects with Byway stakeholders and their specific communities.
Delaware Bayshore Byway was developed through a strong partnership among Delaware Greenways, DelDOT and DNREC
Delaware Route 9 from New Castle to Dover has traditionally been viewed as the quieter, natural side of Delaware and “the essence of Delaware”.
As far back as 1965, Delaware State Highway Department recommended that State Route 9 be designated a scenic highway. In 1974, the Delaware Department of Highways and Transportation in cooperation with FHWA prepared a National Scenic Highway study for Delaware and Rt 9 from New Castle to Dover was ranked DE Scenic Route #1.
The 90-mile Coastal Heritage Greenway was created by former Governor Castle in 1992 and was managed by DNREC’s State Parks and Recreation. In July 1992, Senate State Bill # 433 established the Delaware Coastal Heritage Greenway Council, as an advisory group to DNREC State Parks, for the purpose of defining how the natural, cultural and historic resources of Delaware’s coastline should be components of a Delaware Coastal Heritage Greenway.
In 2003 a broad coalition of Rt 9 residents, State and local politicians, not-for-profit organizations and State and local agencies came together to nominate Route 9 as a State Scenic Byway. On March 7, 2007, Rt9 was designated a DE Scenic and Historic Byway.
In January 2012, Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced in his State of the State address that Delaware would be launching a DNREC-led effort, the Bayshore Initiative, to enhance the State’s spectacular coastal region and boost the economy by restoring critical wildlife habit and improving access to world-class outdoor experiences.
The goals and objectives of the Bayshore Initiative were strongly synergistic with those of the Delaware Bayshore Byway. On March 12, 2012, Collin O’Mara, Secretary of DNREC met with Delaware Greenways to ensure effective integration of the two efforts, and a steering team of Delaware Greenways/Truppi Consulting, LLC, DNREC and DelDOT was formed and tasked to lead the development of the CMP in a way that met the objectives of both programs. The CMP developed under the leadership of this partnership was approved by DelDOT on December 16, 2013, and the Byway was officially renamed the Delaware Bayshore Byway.
About Delaware Greenways:
We envision a State where trails, pathways and scenic corridors connect everyone to where they want to go, empowering them to live healthier lives as they discover and enjoy the outdoors.
