 What would become DE 1 between Milford and Rehoboth Beach was originally a county road by 1920 . By 1924 , the road was proposed as a state highway between Nassau and Rehoboth Beach . A year later , the state highway was completed between Milford and Cedar Creek and from Nassau to just west of Rehoboth Beach , with the sections between Cedar Creek and Nassau and into Rehoboth Beach under proposal . In 1927 , the state highway between Milford and Rehoboth Beach was completed with the construction of a bascule bridge over the Broadkill River . In 1931 , a state gravel road was extended from Bethany Beach to the Indian River Inlet , providing access to the inlet for recreational purposes . In January 1933 , bids were made for construction of a gravel road from Dewey Beach south to the Indian River Inlet as well as for a timber bridge across the inlet , connecting with the gravel road between the Indian River Inlet and Bethany Beach . This gravel road would provide a direct connection between Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach and would provide better access to the Atlantic coast for recreation . The Ocean Highway between Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach was completed in 1933 . In fall of that year , the roadway between Bethany Beach and Indian River Inlet was paved , with recommendations to pave the road north from the Indian River Inlet toward Rehoboth Beach . In 1934 , the Ocean Highway between the Indian River Inlet and Rehoboth Beach was paved . The same year , recommendations were made to extend the Ocean Highway south from Bethany Beach to Fenwick Island , where it would lead to a Maryland state highway continuing to Ocean City . 
