The First State’s stretch of I-95 turns 50 years old Thursday.
The highway officially opened November 14th, 1963 with a ribbon cutting near the Delaware–Maryland state line.
The ceremony was notable for another reason. DelDOT spokesman Mike Williams says President John F, Kennedy joined Delaware Governor Elbert Carvell and Maryland Governor Millard Tawes to open the turnpike.
“This was his last public appearance before he went to Texas a few days before he was assassinated in Dallas. So, he traveled here and the citizens of Delaware really gave him a warm welcome and the Governors appreciated extremely that he was able to attend that event for us," said Williams. “Thousands of citizens came out to hear the speech and when he left, t took a long time for everyone to get back off the road and it wasn’t open to traffic right away because of the crowds.”
A month later, following the assassination, the state renamed the road the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.
When it opened, Delaware’s portion of 95 was only 11-miles of highway from the Delaware-Maryland line to the Route 141 interchange. It has since grown to cover 24 miles to the Pennsylvania border
Williams says since opening more than a billion cars have passed through the I-95 toll plaza.
A video covering President Kennedy’s historic ribbon cutting, and opening of the turnpike plays inside the I-95 welcome center so that travelers can learn about this event.
