This article is about the current Maryland Route 491. For the former highway, see Maryland Route 425.
Maryland Route 491 (MD 491) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Raven Rock Road, the state highway runs 6.78 miles (10.91 km) from MD 64 in Smithsburg north to MD 550 in Fort Ritchie. The middle portion of MD 491 was constructed in the mid-1950s. The highway was extended south to Smithsburg along a partially new alignment in the early 1960s, replacing a road that had been designed MD 92 from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s. MD 491 was extended north toward Fort Ritchie in the late 1960s.
MD 491 begins at an intersection with MD 64 (Smithsburg Pike) in Smithsburg. The state highway heads northeast as two-lane undivided Raven Rock Road, which flanks the western slope of South Mountain and parallels CSX's Hanover Subdivision railroad line. MD 491 veers east away from the railroad at Fruit Tree Drive and crosses Little Antietam Creek. The Appalachian Trail then crosses MD 491 approximately 1/2 mile further. The state highway follows the creek into Raven Rock Hollow, a gap in South Mountain between Buzzard Knob to the south and Raven Rock to the north. MD 491 follows the creek east and then northeast to an unnamed gap near Mt. Zion Road where the highway enters Frederick County. The state highway continues north to a four-way intersection next to the historic summer cottage Tipahato. From this intersection on the county line, Fort Ritchie heads east toward Sabillasville and Moyer Road heads north toward the communities of Highfield and Cascade. MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road into Washington County. The state highways descends to the site of the former U.S. Army installation Fort Ritchie within the community of Fort Ritchie, where the highway reaches its northern terminus at MD 550. MD 550 heads northeast as Military Road and northwest along Macfee Hill Road toward Pen Mar.[1][2]
Historyedit
The predecessor state highway to MD 491 was MD 92, which was constructed in 1935.[3][4] The state highway had its western terminus at the intersection of Water Street and Pennsylvania Avenue (originally MD 64, now MD 66) in Smithsburg. MD 92 ran east as Water Street and Fruit Tree Drive to near Fruit Tree Drive's modern intersection with MD 491 at the Western Maryland Railway crossing.[5] MD 92 was rebuilt around 1944 as a military access project, as the state highway was part of the most direct route between Hagerstown and Fort Ritchie.[6] MD 92 was transferred out of the state highway system in 1956. That same year, the original MD 491 in Charles County became part of an extended MD 425.[7]
Starting in a 1954, the portion of Raven Rock Road from Ritchie Road to the Frederick County line was reconstructed.[8] This segment was designated MD 491 by 1957.[9] The other sections of Raven Rock Road remained county highways.[10] A new road was constructed east of the railroad between MD 64 (Smithsburg Bypass) and the present junction of MD 491 and Fruit Tree Drive in 1963. This new road and the portion of Raven Rock Road between Fruit Tree Drive and Ritchie Road became part of an extended MD 491.[11] MD 491 was extended north from the Frederick County line north along Raven Rock Road and Royer Road to MD 550 in Highfield in 1968.[12] The state highway achieved its present course when its northernmost segment was moved from Royer Road to Macfee Hill Road around 1981.[13]
^Byron, William D.; Lacy, Robert (December 28, 1934). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1931–1934 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 339. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
^Maryland Geological Survey (1935). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1939). General Highway Map: State of Maryland(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Whitman, Ezra B.; Webb, P. Watson; Thomas, W. Frank (March 1, 1945). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1943–1944 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 102. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1956). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Bonnell, Robert O.; Bennett, Edgar T.; McMullen, John J. (November 2, 1956). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1955–1956 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. pp. 192, 194. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1957). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1961). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1963). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Maryland State Roads Commission (1968). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
^Maryland State Highway Administration (1981). Maryland: Official Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (1981–1982 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maryland Route 491.
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This article is about the current Maryland Route 491 For the former highway see Maryland Route 425 Maryland Route 491 MD 491 is a state highway in the U S state of Maryland Known for most of its length as Raven Rock Road the state highway runs 6 78 miles 10 91 km from MD 64 in Smithsburg north to MD 550 in Fort Ritchie The middle portion of MD 491 was constructed in the mid 1950s The highway was extended south to Smithsburg along a partially new alignment in the early 1960s replacing a road that had been designed MD 92 from the mid 1930s to the mid 1950s MD 491 was extended north toward Fort Ritchie in the late 1960s Maryland Route 491Maryland Route 491 highlighted in redRoute informationMaintained by MDSHALength6 78 mi 1 10 91 km Existed1957 presentMajor junctionsSouth endMD 64 in SmithsburgNorth endMD 550 in Fort RitchieLocationCountryUnited StatesStateMarylandCountiesWashington FrederickHighway systemMaryland highway systemInterstate US State Scenic Byways MD 490 MD 494 Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 Junction list 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksRoute description edit nbsp View south along MD 491 in Fort RitchieMD 491 begins at an intersection with MD 64 Smithsburg Pike in Smithsburg The state highway heads northeast as two lane undivided Raven Rock Road which flanks the western slope of South Mountain and parallels CSX s Hanover Subdivision railroad line MD 491 veers east away from the railroad at Fruit Tree Drive and crosses Little Antietam Creek The Appalachian Trail then crosses MD 491 approximately 1 2 mile further The state highway follows the creek into Raven Rock Hollow a gap in South Mountain between Buzzard Knob to the south and Raven Rock to the north MD 491 follows the creek east and then northeast to an unnamed gap near Mt Zion Road where the highway enters Frederick County The state highway continues north to a four way intersection next to the historic summer cottage Tipahato From this intersection on the county line Fort Ritchie heads east toward Sabillasville and Moyer Road heads north toward the communities of Highfield and Cascade MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road into Washington County The state highways descends to the site of the former U S Army installation Fort Ritchie within the community of Fort Ritchie where the highway reaches its northern terminus at MD 550 MD 550 heads northeast as Military Road and northwest along Macfee Hill Road toward Pen Mar 1 2 History editThe predecessor state highway to MD 491 was MD 92 which was constructed in 1935 3 4 The state highway had its western terminus at the intersection of Water Street and Pennsylvania Avenue originally MD 64 now MD 66 in Smithsburg MD 92 ran east as Water Street and Fruit Tree Drive to near Fruit Tree Drive s modern intersection with MD 491 at the Western Maryland Railway crossing 5 MD 92 was rebuilt around 1944 as a military access project as the state highway was part of the most direct route between Hagerstown and Fort Ritchie 6 MD 92 was transferred out of the state highway system in 1956 That same year the original MD 491 in Charles County became part of an extended MD 425 7 Starting in a 1954 the portion of Raven Rock Road from Ritchie Road to the Frederick County line was reconstructed 8 This segment was designated MD 491 by 1957 9 The other sections of Raven Rock Road remained county highways 10 A new road was constructed east of the railroad between MD 64 Smithsburg Bypass and the present junction of MD 491 and Fruit Tree Drive in 1963 This new road and the portion of Raven Rock Road between Fruit Tree Drive and Ritchie Road became part of an extended MD 491 11 MD 491 was extended north from the Frederick County line north along Raven Rock Road and Royer Road to MD 550 in Highfield in 1968 12 The state highway achieved its present course when its northernmost segment was moved from Royer Road to Macfee Hill Road around 1981 13 Junction list editCountyLocationmi 1 kmDestinationsNotesWashingtonSmithsburg0 000 00 nbsp MD 64 Smithsburg Pike Hagerstown WaynesboroSouthern terminusFrederick 6 4010 30Royer Road north Fort Ritchie Road east Sabillasville Highfield CascadeMD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill RoadWashingtonFort Ritchie6 7810 91 nbsp MD 550 Macfee Hill Road Military Road Thurmont Pen MarNorthern terminus1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 miSee also edit nbsp Maryland Roads portalReferences edit a b c Highway Information Services Division December 31 2013 Highway Location Reference Maryland State Highway Administration Retrieved 2011 03 21 Washington County PDF Frederick County PDF Google 2011 03 21 Maryland Route 491 Map Google Maps Google Retrieved 2011 03 21 Byron William D Lacy Robert December 28 1934 Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1931 1934 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission p 339 Retrieved 2011 03 21 Maryland Geological Survey 1935 Map of Maryland Showing State Road System State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections PDF Map Baltimore Maryland Geological Survey Maryland State Roads Commission 1939 General Highway Map State of Maryland PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Whitman Ezra B Webb P Watson Thomas W Frank March 1 1945 Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1943 1944 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission p 102 Retrieved 2011 03 21 Maryland State Roads Commission 1956 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Bonnell Robert O Bennett Edgar T McMullen John J November 2 1956 Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1955 1956 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission pp 192 194 Retrieved 2011 03 21 Maryland State Roads Commission 1957 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Maryland State Roads Commission 1961 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Maryland State Roads Commission 1963 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Maryland State Roads Commission 1968 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Maryland State Highway Administration 1981 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map 1981 1982 ed Baltimore Maryland State Highway Administration External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maryland Route 491 KML file edit help Template Attached KML Maryland Route 491KML is from Wikidata MDRoads MD 491 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maryland Route 491 amp oldid 1173488072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
