After running through the downtown area, the route becomes East Main Street and heads east through suburban commercial development in the eastern part of Middletown, passing to the north of Middletown High School and becoming Middletown Odessa Road. The roadway heads south of the Christiana Care Middletown Free-standing Emergency Department before it becomes a divided highway, passing south of a park and ride lot and intersecting the DE 1 toll road at a diamond interchange on the eastern border of Middletown.
This route begins in the city center, transitioning onto East Main Street and proceeding east through suburban commercial districts in Middletown's eastern area, sidestepping Middletown High School to the north and merging with Middletown Odessa Road. The road then heads south of a medical facility before becoming a divided highway, passing near a park-and-ride location and intersecting the DE 1 toll road at an interchange on the eastern edge of Middletown.