The Delaware State Police (DSP) and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) are advising motorists to expect travel delays throughout the morning and early afternoon hours of Friday, May 5, 2017, due to the funeral services for Corporal Grade 1 Stephen J. Ballard.
The northbound lanes of I-95 between the Christiana Mall (Exit 4A) and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Exit 6) will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. and will be opened after the procession of emergency vehicles to travel to the Chase Center on the Riverfront; additionally a second closure of the northbound lanes between the Christiana Mall (Exit 4A) and the Martin Luther King Jr, Boulevard (Exit 6) will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. for the last procession of emergency vehicles to travel to the Chase Center on The Riverfront.
Northbound I-95 traffic will be significantly impacted and will be utilizing alternate routes of DE 896, US 40, DE 273, and US 13; motorists can expect delays on these routes with the increased diverted volume of traffic.
The funeral procession will then depart the Riverfront at approximately 12 p.m. and travel to the Gracelawn Cemetery located at 2220 North DuPont Highway, New Castle.
The procession is scheduled to use the following route:
Justison Street - Martin Luther King Boulevard - South Market Street - ; North DuPont Highway - ; Lovelace Avenue (U-turn) to Gracelawn Memorial Cemetery.
DART will be offering free shuttle service from the Route 273 and Route 7 Park & Ride to the Chase Center at the Wilmington Riverfront beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 9 a.m. Return service to the Park & Ride from the Chase Center will between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
DART will also be adjusting regular bus services to avoid road closures. Delays can be expected. Commuters can also use SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Line from Newark and Fairplay Stations to avoid delays. Visit www.dartfirststate.com for more details.
Members of the public wishing to attend the services for Corporal Ballard are asked to use off-site parking as access to the Chase Center will be restricted.
Motorists may adjust their routes or travel times by using DelDOT's Smartphone application. The DelDOT App is available for Apple & Android smart phones and tablets, and can be downloaded free, search for "DelDOT" at the Apple and Google Play stores. With the DelDOT App you can view real time traffic cameras, travel times, delays, advisories and DART's Real-Time Transit Information.
Source: Delaware State Police and Delaware Department of Transportation
Bus Detours Due to Funeral Services on Friday, May 5
Customers Can Expect Major Delays
No DART Bus Service to Christiana Mall before 9 AM
Any Buses Using I-95 North will use an alternative route until after 9 AM or I-95 reopens
Any Buses Using US 13 South will have major delays from noon to 3 PM
All Bus Services in New Castle County will experience major delays
Christiana Mall Buses: Until 9 AM, the following bus routes will be on detour:
Route 5 – begin/end trips at Fairplay Station; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 15 – begin/end trips at Fairplay Station; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 33 (to Wilmington) - Regular route to Christiana Hospital, then operates non-stop to Amtrak Station via DE 4; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 33 (from Wilmington) - no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 34 – begin/end trips at DE 273 & 7 Park & Ride; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 40 (to Wilmington) – From DE 273 & DE 7 Park & Ride, operates non-stop to Amtrak Station via US 40 and US 13; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 40 (from Wilmington) – no service to Christiana Mall; from DE 1, operates to DE 273 & DE 7 Park & Ride, then regular route to Peoples Plaza.
Route 45 - no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 54 (to Wilmington) – from DE 273 & DE 7 Park & Ride, operates non-stop to Amtrak Station via US 40 and US 13; no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 54 (from Wilmington) – no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 55 (to Wilmington) - no service to Christiana Mall; instead use DE 273 & DE 7 Park & Ride, operates non-stop to Amtrak Station via US 40 and US 13.
Route 55 (from Wilmington) - no service to Christiana Mall.
Route 301 – no service to Christiana Mall.
Riverfront Detours – until 2 PM
Routes 7, 12, 49 – begin/end trips at Beech St. at Penn Cinema; no service to Chase Center.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For information on fixed route bus services statewide, please call
1-800-652-DART or visit www.DartFirstState.com.