fbpx
Wikipedia

Maryland Route 68

May 07, 2023

This article describes a Maryland state highway numbered 68. For the Interstate with the same number, see Interstate 68.

Maryland Route 68 (MD 68) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs 18.50 miles (29.77 km) from U.S. Route 40 (US 40) in Clear Spring east to US 40 Alternate in Boonsboro. MD 68 crosses central Washington County to the south of Hagerstown, connecting Clear Spring and Boonsboro with Williamsport, where the highway runs concurrently with MD 63. A small segment of MD 68 west of Boonsboro was constructed around 1920, using as part of the route two early 19th-century stone bridges. The remainder of the highway between Boonsboro and Williamsport was constructed in the second half of the 1920s. MD 68 was extended west from Williamsport to Clear Spring in the mid-1950s. The state highway was relocated south of Williamsport for the construction of Interstate 81 (I-81) in the mid-1960s. Since the early 1990s, I-68 has also existed in Washington County; signs on I-70 aim to avoid confusion between I-68 and MD 68.

Maryland Route 68

Maryland Route 68 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA and Town of Williamsport
Length18.50 mi[1] (29.77 km)
Existed1927–present
Tourist
routes		 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Scenic Byway
Historic National Road Scenic Byway
Major junctions
West end US 40 in Clear Spring
Major intersections
East end
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountiesWashington
Highway system
← I-68→ I-70

Route description

 
View south alond MD 63 and west along MD 68 at I-81 near Williamsport

MD 68 begins at an intersection with US 40 (Cumberland Street) in the town of Clear Spring. The state highway heads south as four-lane undivided Mill Street through a commercial area. MD 68's name changes to Clear Spring Road after leaving the town limits. The state highway meets I-70 (Eisenhower Memorial Highway) at a diamond interchange, then heads southeast through farmland as a two-lane undivided road, where the highway crosses Little Conococheague Creek. MD 68 intersects the eastern end of MD 56 (Big Pool Road) shortly before passing through the village of Pinesburg. The state highway intersects CSX's Lurgan Subdivision rail line at-grade and passes between industrial properties, then crosses Conococheague Creek and enters the town of Williamsport. MD 68 is municipally maintained within the town, where the highway follows Conococheague Street south through an intersection with US 11 (Potomac Street). At this intersection, MD 63 joins MD 68 in a concurrency to continue through the Williamsport Historic District. The two highways leave the town limits at their diamond interchange with I-81 (Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway), through which the roadway temporarily expands to a four-lane divided highway. A park and ride lot is located within the northwest quadrant of this interchange.[1][2]

 
MD 68 westbound at Mill Point Road in Millpoint

MD 68's name changes to Lappans Road south of Williamsport. MD 63 (Spielman Road) splits south from MD 68 at the same intersection as Governor Lane Boulevard, which serves an industrial park. MD 68 crosses over a Winchester and Western Railroad line and curves to the east, then resumes heading southeast after intersecting the eastern end of Kendle Road. The state highway heads southeast through farmland and intersects MD 632 (Downsville Pike). The road crosses Norfolk Southern Railway's Hagerstown District at-grade and crosses St. James Run in the hamlet of St. James. MD 68 intersects MD 65 (Sharpsburg Pike) in the hamlet of Lappans, where the highway passes north of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The state highway passes through the hamlet of Brethedsville and passes Devils Backbone County Park as the highway follows Antietam Creek for a short distance. MD 68 crosses over the creek on a narrow stone bridge, then makes a sharp turn to the south to continue following the forested valley of the creek. The state highway crosses over Beaver Creek on a one-lane stone bridge before leaving the creek valley. MD 68 continues southeast through farmland and the hamlet of Millpoint before reaching its eastern terminus at US 40 Alternate (Main Street) on the northern edge of the town of Boonsboro.[1][2]

History

 
Disambiguation sign posted in advance of the MD 68 interchange on westbound I-70 near Clear Spring

The first section of MD 68, from Lappans to Millpoint near Boonsboro, was constructed in 1920.[3][4] This segment made use of a pair of stone arch bridges over Antietam Creek and Beaver Creek constructed in 1833 and 1824, respectively. These bridges remain open to traffic as part of MD 68.[5][6] MD 68 was extended east from Millpoint to Boonsboro in 1925.[7] Construction of MD 68 from Williamsport to Lappans began in 1926, with a section complete from Williamsport to the Cumberland Valley Railroad (now Winchester and Western Railroad) by 1927.[7][8] The last section of the Williamsport–Lappans Road was completed in 1930.[9][10] The state highway's western terminus was originally US 11 in Williamsport, within which MD 68 followed Artizan Street south to Sunset Avenue at the southern town limit. Artizan Street continued south as MD 63 and MD 68 followed Sunset Avenue southeast toward Lappans.[11][12] Clear Spring Road remained a county highway until MD 68 was extended west to Clear Spring in 1956.[13]

MD 68 was relocated south of Williamsport, replacing Sunset Avenue and what is now Kendle Road, in 1965.[14] The state highway was relocated for a grade separation of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and to tie into an interchange with I-81 and the south end of Conococheague Street.[14][15] MD 63 joined MD 68 in a concurrency along Conococheague Street north to US 11.[14] The new alignment of MD 68 and MD 63 was built as a four-lane divided highway around the interchange with I-81, which originally only contained ramps to and from the direction of West Virginia when the interchange opened with the completion of I-81 in 1966.[16] That interchange was completed with ramps to and from Hagerstown between 1981 and 1989.[17][18] Since the completion of I-68 in 1991, the Interstate and state-numbered highways with the same number have co-existed separated by 17 miles (27 km) on I-70.[1][19] Multiple signs on westbound I-70 in advance of the Interstate's interchange with MD 68 advise motorists that I-68 and MD 68 are not the same highway and remind them to remain on I-70 to access I-68.[20]

Junction list

The entire route is in Washington County.

Locationmi
[1]		kmDestinationsNotes
Clear Spring0.000.00  US 40 (Cumberland Street) / Mill Street north – Huyett, Indian SpringsWestern terminus
0.470.76  I-70 (Eisenhower Memorial Highway) – Hagerstown, HancockI-70 Exit 18
Pinesburg2.744.41 
  MD 56 west (Big Pool Road) – Big Spring		Eastern terminus of MD 56
Williamsport7.3111.76  
  US 11 / MD 63 north (Potomac Street) – Hagerstown, Huyett, Martinsburg		West end of concurrency with MD 63
8.2913.34  I-81 (Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway) – Harrisburg, RoanokeI-81 Exit 1
8.5213.71 
  MD 63 south (Spielman Road) – Downsville		East end of concurrency with MD 63
St. James10.4816.87  MD 632 (Downsville Pike) – Downsville, Hagerstown
Lappans13.3521.48  MD 65 (Sharpsburg Pike) – Sharpsburg, Hagerstown
Boonsboro18.5029.77 
  US 40 Alt. (Main Street) – Funkstown, Middletown		Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
    • Washington County (PDF).
  2. ^ a b Google (2010-11-29). "Maryland Route 68" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  3. ^ Zouck, Frank H.; Uhl, G. Clinton; Mudd, John F. (January 1920). Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1916–1919 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 20. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1921). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  5. ^ "Booth's Mill Bridge" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  6. ^ "Devil's Backbone Bridge" (PDF). Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  7. ^ a b Mackall, John N.; Darnall, R. Bennett; Brown, W.W. (January 1927). Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1924–1926 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 100. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  8. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1927). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  9. ^ Uhl, G. Clinton; Bruce, Howard; Shaw, John K. (October 1, 1930). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1927–1930 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 232. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  10. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1930). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  11. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1939). General Highway Map: State of Maryland (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  12. ^ Williamsport, MD quadrangle (Map) (1944 ed.). 1:48,000. 15 Minute Series (Topographic). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  13. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1956). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  14. ^ a b c Maryland State Roads Commission (1965). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  15. ^ Federal Highway Administration (2012). "NBI Structure Number: 100000210085010". National Bridge Inventory. Federal Highway Administration.
  16. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1967). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  17. ^ 10 km SW of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States (Map). Topo Map. United States Geological Survey. 1981-07-01. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  18. ^ 10 km SW of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States (Map). Aerial Map. United States Geological Survey. 1989-05-28. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  19. ^ Maryland State Highway Administration (1991). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration.
  20. ^ Field, Andy; Nitzman, Alex; Ivy, Brent. "Interstate 70 West - Washington County". AARoads. Retrieved 2010-11-29.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maryland Route 68.

Route map:

KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Maryland Route 68
KML is from Wikidata
  • MDRoads: MD 68

May 07, 2023
maryland, route, this, article, describes, maryland, state, highway, numbered, interstate, with, same, number, interstate, state, highway, state, maryland, state, highway, runs, miles, from, route, clear, spring, east, alternate, boonsboro, crosses, central, w. This article describes a Maryland state highway numbered 68 For the Interstate with the same number see Interstate 68 Maryland Route 68 MD 68 is a state highway in the U S state of Maryland The state highway runs 18 50 miles 29 77 km from U S Route 40 US 40 in Clear Spring east to US 40 Alternate in Boonsboro MD 68 crosses central Washington County to the south of Hagerstown connecting Clear Spring and Boonsboro with Williamsport where the highway runs concurrently with MD 63 A small segment of MD 68 west of Boonsboro was constructed around 1920 using as part of the route two early 19th century stone bridges The remainder of the highway between Boonsboro and Williamsport was constructed in the second half of the 1920s MD 68 was extended west from Williamsport to Clear Spring in the mid 1950s The state highway was relocated south of Williamsport for the construction of Interstate 81 I 81 in the mid 1960s Since the early 1990s I 68 has also existed in Washington County signs on I 70 aim to avoid confusion between I 68 and MD 68 Maryland Route 68Maryland Route 68 highlighted in redRoute informationMaintained by MDSHA and Town of WilliamsportLength18 50 mi 1 29 77 km Existed1927 presentTouristroutesChesapeake and Ohio Canal Scenic Byway Historic National Road Scenic BywayMajor junctionsWest endUS 40 in Clear SpringMajor intersectionsI 70 in Clear Spring MD 56 near Pinesburg MD 63 in Williamsport US 11 in Williamsport I 81 in Williamsport MD 632 near St James MD 65 at LappansEast endUS 40 Alt in BoonsboroLocationCountryUnited StatesStateMarylandCountiesWashingtonHighway systemMaryland highway systemInterstate US State Scenic Byways I 68 I 70 Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 Junction list 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksRoute description Edit View south alond MD 63 and west along MD 68 at I 81 near Williamsport MD 68 begins at an intersection with US 40 Cumberland Street in the town of Clear Spring The state highway heads south as four lane undivided Mill Street through a commercial area MD 68 s name changes to Clear Spring Road after leaving the town limits The state highway meets I 70 Eisenhower Memorial Highway at a diamond interchange then heads southeast through farmland as a two lane undivided road where the highway crosses Little Conococheague Creek MD 68 intersects the eastern end of MD 56 Big Pool Road shortly before passing through the village of Pinesburg The state highway intersects CSX s Lurgan Subdivision rail line at grade and passes between industrial properties then crosses Conococheague Creek and enters the town of Williamsport MD 68 is municipally maintained within the town where the highway follows Conococheague Street south through an intersection with US 11 Potomac Street At this intersection MD 63 joins MD 68 in a concurrency to continue through the Williamsport Historic District The two highways leave the town limits at their diamond interchange with I 81 Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway through which the roadway temporarily expands to a four lane divided highway A park and ride lot is located within the northwest quadrant of this interchange 1 2 MD 68 westbound at Mill Point Road in Millpoint MD 68 s name changes to Lappans Road south of Williamsport MD 63 Spielman Road splits south from MD 68 at the same intersection as Governor Lane Boulevard which serves an industrial park MD 68 crosses over a Winchester and Western Railroad line and curves to the east then resumes heading southeast after intersecting the eastern end of Kendle Road The state highway heads southeast through farmland and intersects MD 632 Downsville Pike The road crosses Norfolk Southern Railway s Hagerstown District at grade and crosses St James Run in the hamlet of St James MD 68 intersects MD 65 Sharpsburg Pike in the hamlet of Lappans where the highway passes north of St Mark s Episcopal Church The state highway passes through the hamlet of Brethedsville and passes Devils Backbone County Park as the highway follows Antietam Creek for a short distance MD 68 crosses over the creek on a narrow stone bridge then makes a sharp turn to the south to continue following the forested valley of the creek The state highway crosses over Beaver Creek on a one lane stone bridge before leaving the creek valley MD 68 continues southeast through farmland and the hamlet of Millpoint before reaching its eastern terminus at US 40 Alternate Main Street on the northern edge of the town of Boonsboro 1 2 History Edit Disambiguation sign posted in advance of the MD 68 interchange on westbound I 70 near Clear Spring The first section of MD 68 from Lappans to Millpoint near Boonsboro was constructed in 1920 3 4 This segment made use of a pair of stone arch bridges over Antietam Creek and Beaver Creek constructed in 1833 and 1824 respectively These bridges remain open to traffic as part of MD 68 5 6 MD 68 was extended east from Millpoint to Boonsboro in 1925 7 Construction of MD 68 from Williamsport to Lappans began in 1926 with a section complete from Williamsport to the Cumberland Valley Railroad now Winchester and Western Railroad by 1927 7 8 The last section of the Williamsport Lappans Road was completed in 1930 9 10 The state highway s western terminus was originally US 11 in Williamsport within which MD 68 followed Artizan Street south to Sunset Avenue at the southern town limit Artizan Street continued south as MD 63 and MD 68 followed Sunset Avenue southeast toward Lappans 11 12 Clear Spring Road remained a county highway until MD 68 was extended west to Clear Spring in 1956 13 MD 68 was relocated south of Williamsport replacing Sunset Avenue and what is now Kendle Road in 1965 14 The state highway was relocated for a grade separation of the Cumberland Valley Railroad and to tie into an interchange with I 81 and the south end of Conococheague Street 14 15 MD 63 joined MD 68 in a concurrency along Conococheague Street north to US 11 14 The new alignment of MD 68 and MD 63 was built as a four lane divided highway around the interchange with I 81 which originally only contained ramps to and from the direction of West Virginia when the interchange opened with the completion of I 81 in 1966 16 That interchange was completed with ramps to and from Hagerstown between 1981 and 1989 17 18 Since the completion of I 68 in 1991 the Interstate and state numbered highways with the same number have co existed separated by 17 miles 27 km on I 70 1 19 Multiple signs on westbound I 70 in advance of the Interstate s interchange with MD 68 advise motorists that I 68 and MD 68 are not the same highway and remind them to remain on I 70 to access I 68 20 Junction list EditThe entire route is in Washington County Locationmi 1 kmDestinationsNotesClear Spring0 000 00 US 40 Cumberland Street Mill Street north Huyett Indian SpringsWestern terminus0 470 76 I 70 Eisenhower Memorial Highway Hagerstown HancockI 70 Exit 18Pinesburg2 744 41 MD 56 west Big Pool Road Big SpringEastern terminus of MD 56Williamsport7 3111 76 US 11 MD 63 north Potomac Street Hagerstown Huyett MartinsburgWest end of concurrency with MD 638 2913 34 I 81 Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway Harrisburg RoanokeI 81 Exit 18 5213 71 MD 63 south Spielman Road DownsvilleEast end of concurrency with MD 63St James10 4816 87 MD 632 Downsville Pike Downsville HagerstownLappans13 3521 48 MD 65 Sharpsburg Pike Sharpsburg HagerstownBoonsboro18 5029 77 US 40 Alt Main Street Funkstown MiddletownEastern terminus1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 mi Concurrency terminusSee also Edit Maryland Roads portalReferences Edit a b c d e Highway Information Services Division December 31 2013 Highway Location Reference Maryland State Highway Administration Retrieved 2010 11 29 Washington County PDF a b Google 2010 11 29 Maryland Route 68 Map Google Maps Google Retrieved 2010 11 29 Zouck Frank H Uhl G Clinton Mudd John F January 1920 Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1916 1919 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission p 20 Retrieved 2010 11 29 Maryland Geological Survey 1921 Map of Maryland Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads PDF Map Baltimore Maryland Geological Survey Booth s Mill Bridge PDF Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Retrieved 2010 11 29 Devil s Backbone Bridge PDF Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Retrieved 2010 11 29 a b Mackall John N Darnall R Bennett Brown W W January 1927 Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1924 1926 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission p 100 Retrieved 2010 11 29 Maryland Geological Survey 1927 Map of Maryland Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads PDF Map Baltimore Maryland Geological Survey Uhl G Clinton Bruce Howard Shaw John K October 1 1930 Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland 1927 1930 ed Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission p 232 Retrieved 2010 11 29 Maryland Geological Survey 1930 Map of Maryland Showing State Road System State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections Map Baltimore Maryland Geological Survey Maryland State Roads Commission 1939 General Highway Map State of Maryland PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Williamsport MD quadrangle Map 1944 ed 1 48 000 15 Minute Series Topographic United States Geological Survey Retrieved 2010 11 29 Maryland State Roads Commission 1956 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission a b c Maryland State Roads Commission 1965 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission Federal Highway Administration 2012 NBI Structure Number 100000210085010 National Bridge Inventory Federal Highway Administration Maryland State Roads Commission 1967 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Roads Commission 10 km SW of Hagerstown Maryland United States Map Topo Map United States Geological Survey 1981 07 01 Retrieved 2010 11 29 10 km SW of Hagerstown Maryland United States Map Aerial Map United States Geological Survey 1989 05 28 Retrieved 2010 11 29 Maryland State Highway Administration 1991 Maryland Official Highway Map PDF Map Baltimore Maryland State Highway Administration Field Andy Nitzman Alex Ivy Brent Interstate 70 West Washington County AARoads Retrieved 2010 11 29 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maryland Route 68 Route map KML file edit help Template Attached KML Maryland Route 68KML is from Wikidata MDRoads MD 68 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maryland Route 68 amp oldid 1149737282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.