Delaware Route 48

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Delaware Route 48 connects the City of Wilmington, Delaware to an intersection with Delaware Route 41 (Newport-Gap Pike) about 2 miles from the Pennsylvania state line.

Route 48 is known as Lancaster Avenue in the city of Wilmington and Lancaster Pike outside of the city. The westbound portion of Route 48 in Wilmington to Union Street is Second Street which is one way. Lancaster Avenue is one way eastbound from Union Street.

Route 48 (Lancaster Pike) was a cut off for farmers from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania hauling produce to tidewater at Wilmington in the late 1700s. In the early days, it was a toll road and later became a public road without tolls.

The designation "Route 48" began in the 1920's as it was seen as an extension of New Jersey Route 48 by means of the Wilmington - Penns Grove Ferry. It is the only Delaware route that continues a New Jersey state route number (there are several PA and MD roads that do).

After the termination of ferry service from Wilmington to Penns Grove in the 1940s, the route number was retained. The Delaware termination of this ferry was at 4th Street in Wilmington on the Christina River.