I've made the trip several times. Sometimes I'll cut off in Emporia VA and take Rt 58 to the bay bridge tunnel and take Rt 13 up to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. May take a little longer but you usually don't have to deal with much traffic.
I always transfer the tape to reel that has a full slit in it (Teac plastic reels do) and then slice the tape with a razor blade knife. I use a putty knife to protect the other side of the reel so as not to mark it up. Just another idea.