 Maryland Route 97 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 MD 97 in red, MD 97A in pink (south of Olney), former Brookeville alignment in gray | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byMDSHA | ||||
| Length | 55.27 mi[1] (88.95 km) | |||
| Existed | 1933–present | |||
| Tourist routes |  Mason and Dixon Scenic Byway | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |   US 29 /MD 384 inSilver Spring | |||
| Major intersections |
| |||
| North end |  PA 97 nearLittlestown, PA | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Maryland | |||
| Counties | Montgomery,Howard,Carroll | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Maryland Route 97 (MD 97) is astate highway in theU.S. state ofMaryland. The route runs 55.27 mi (88.95 km) fromU.S. Route 29 (US 29) inSilver Spring,Montgomery County, north to thePennsylvania border inCarroll County, where the road continues into that state asPennsylvania Route 97 (PA 97). Throughout most of Montgomery County, MD 97 is known asGeorgia Avenue, which continues south from the southern terminus along US 29 intoWashington, D.C. It is a suburban four- to six-lanedivided highway from Silver Spring north toOlney. From here, the route continues as a rural two-lane undivided road north throughBrookeville and intoHoward County. MD 97 continues through Carroll County where it passes through the county seat ofWestminster. The route intersects many major roads, includingInterstate 495 (I-495, Capital Beltway) north of Silver Spring,MD 28 andMD 200 (Intercounty Connector) inNorbeck,I-70/US 40 nearCooksville,MD 26 inDorsey Crossroads, andMD 27,MD 32, andMD 140 in the Westminster area.
With the creation of theU.S. Highway System in 1926, present-day MD 97 north of Westminster became a part ofUS 140. MD 97 was first designated by 1933 fromMD 27/MD 410 (now US 29) in Silver Spring to north of US 40 in Cooksville. Two portions of the route between Cooksville and Westminster becameMD 570 in 1939. In 1956, MD 97 was extended north from Cooksville to the Pennsylvania border northwest ofEmmitsburg,Frederick County. It replaced the two sections of MD 570 along with the MD 32 designation between Westminster and the Pennsylvania border. MD 97 was rerouted to bypass Westminster in 1960 and was moved to a new alignment between Westminster andTaneytown in 1965; both former alignments became MD 32. In 1961, the route was realigned between MD 26 and MD 32, with the former segment becomingMD 854. MD 97 was rerouted to its current northern terminus in 1979, replacing that portion of US 140, while the former route between Westminster and northwest of Emmitsburg became part of MD 140.
_at_Maryland_State_Route_384_and_U.S._Route_29_(Colesville_Road)_in_Silver_Spring%2c_Montgomery_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 97 runs through theWashington, D.C. suburbs inMontgomery County, connecting several communities includingSilver Spring,Wheaton,Glenmont,Norbeck, andOlney. It continues north from there into rural areas ofHoward andCarroll counties, passing through the Carroll County seat ofWestminster, before reaching thePennsylvania border.[2]
MD 97 has two stretches along which it is a part of theNational Highway System. The highway is a principal arterial from its southern terminus in Silver Spring north to Brookeville Road in Brookeville. Within that section, MD 97 is anintermodal connector from I-495 north to MD 192 in Forest Glen.[1][3] The highway is also a principal arterial from MD 32 at Fenby north to MD 140 in Westminster and from MD 140 in Westminster to a point south of MD 496 north of Westminster. MD 97 is a part of the main National Highway System along its concurrency with MD 140 in Westminster.[1][4]
_just_south_of_Maryland_State_Route_200_(Intercounty_Connector)_in_Olney%2c_Montgomery_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 97 begins at an intersection withUS 29 andMD 384 (Colesville Road) in downtownSilver Spring inMontgomery County, heading north onGeorgia Avenue, a six-lanedivided highway.[1][2] From the route’s southern terminus, Georgia Avenue continues south as part of US 29 towardWashington, D.C. MD 97 passes commercial areas of high-rise buildings in Silver Spring before heading into residential neighborhoods. The route intersects the northern terminus ofMD 390 (16th Street), which heads south and becomes16th Street Northwest upon entering the District of Columbia.Washington Metro'sRed Line begins to run below the route at this point. It continues north as a six-lane undivided road withreversible lanes through commercial areas before coming to a modifiedcloverleaf interchange withI-495 (Capital Beltway).[2]
Past this interchange, the road becomes a divided highway again and intersects the eastern terminus ofMD 192 (Forest Glen Road) near the Red Line'sForest Glen station. MD 97 passes more residences and continues towardWheaton. The road heads into business areas again as it intersectsMD 586 (Veirs Mill Road) east of theWestfield Wheaton shopping mall and adjacent to theWheaton station along the Red Line.[1][2] A short distance later, the road crossesMD 193 (University Boulevard) and continues back into residential areas past that intersection.[1][2] The route heads into a mix of residential and commercial areas as it heads towardGlenmont, where it meetsRandolph Road at asingle-point urban interchange.[2] A short distance later, MD 97 intersects the southern terminus ofMD 182 (Layhill Road).[1][2]
From here, MD 97 turns northwest and passes theGlenmont station terminus of Washington Metro's Red Line before it runs through residential neighborhoods, heading to the northeast ofMatthew Henson State Park. Farther northwest, the route passes businesses near the intersection with the northern terminus ofMD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) inAspen Hill. It turns north again past this intersection and crosses Bel Pre Road. After crossing Bel Pre Road, the route heads into wooded neighborhoods before it passes through a mix of businesses and houses, withMD 655 running to the west of the road. MD 97 crossesMD 28 (Norbeck Road) inNorbeck, and continues past some residences where it intersectsMD 655A, a short connector that provides access to westbound MD 28.[1][2] MD 97 enters more wooded areas and narrows to four lanes, reaching apartial cloverleaf interchange withMD 200 (Intercounty Connector). Apark and ride lot servingMTA Maryland commuter buses is located at the southwest corner of this interchange.[2][5]
Past the MD 200 interchange, theICC Trail runs parallel to the east side of the road. The route eventually passes parkland and residential areas as it crosses Emory Lane, where the ICC Trail splits to the west along that road.[1][2] The road approachesOlney and passes by residential neighborhoods before heading into a business district at the intersection withMD 108 (Olney Sandy Spring Road).[2] After this intersection, the road heads into wooded residential areas as a two-lane undivided road before reaching a roundabout with High Street, which leads intoBrookeville. Bypassing Brookeville to the west, MD 97 reaches another roundabout west of Brookeville with Brookeville Road, which provides additional local access to the town. Continuing north past Brookeville, the road heads into a more rural setting, with areas of farms, woods, and some residences.[2] MD 97 reachesSunshine, where the road crossesMD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue/Damascus Road).[1][2] Past Sunshine, MD 97 resumes through rural areas and enters woodland withinPatuxent River State Park as it approaches thePatuxent River.[1][2]
_between_Wyndtryst_Drive_and_Kriders_Church_Road_in_Westminster%2c_Carroll_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 97 crosses the Patuxent River intoHoward County, where it becomes Roxbury Mills Road, named after theRoxbury Mill built in 1753.[1] It continues north, passing areas of woods and farms along with suburban residential developments.[2] The road heads through the community ofGlenwood and continues through agricultural areas before intersectingMD 144 (Frederick Road) in the community ofCooksville. A park and ride lot is located at the northeast corner of this intersection.[1][2] A short distance later, the route has adiamond interchange withI-70/US 40. Past this interchange, MD 97 becomes Hoods Mill Road and passes rural residential areas, intersecting Old Frederick Road.[1][2] From here, the road winds through a mix of woods, farm fields, and residences before crossing the South Branch of thePatapsco River.[1][2]
Upon crossing the river, MD 97 entersCarroll County and becomes Old Washington Road.[1] The road crossesCSX'sOld Main Line Subdivision railroad line as it passes wooded areas with some residences.[1][2] It runs through a mix of woods and farms with some residences along the road.[2] The number of residences increases as the route crosses Streaker Road inBerrett. From here, MD 97 passes more residences before intersectingMD 850 (Old Liberty Road) at aroundabout. A park and ride lot is located northwest of this roundabout. A short distance later, the route intersectsMD 26 (Liberty Road) at afolded diamond interchange inDorsey Crossroads.[1][2] Past MD 26, MD 97 becomes New Washington Road and heads north through a mix of farmland, woodland, and residential neighborhoods, paralleled to the west byMD 854 (Old Washington Road).[2] The road passes through woodland before intersecting Nicodemus Road, where it continues past farms and woods before heading west of a park and ride lot and crossingMD 32 (Sykesville Road) inFenby.[1][2]
_at_Sullivan_Road_in_Cranberry_Station%2c_Carroll_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
Past this intersection, MD 97 passes to the east ofCarroll Community College and heads into residential areas as it approachesWestminster, bypassing the center of the town to the east.[2] The route becomes Malcolm Drive past the intersection with Main Street/Old Westminster Road and continues to an intersection withMD 140 (Baltimore Boulevard). Here, MD 97 makes a left turn to form aconcurrency with MD 140 on Baltimore Boulevard, a six-lane divided highway.[1][2] The two routes head through commercial areas on the outskirts of Westminster, passing by theTownMall of Westminster before meetingMD 27 (Manchester Road) at a folded-diamond interchange.[2] Past this interchange, the road passes over theMaryland Midland Railway and heads past more businesses. At the Sullivan Road intersection, the road becomes College View Boulevard and a short distance later, MD 97 splits from MD 140 at an interchange nearMcDaniel College.[1][2]
MD 97 continues north on Littlestown Pike, a two-lane undivided road. The road passes east of theCarroll County Regional Airport before heading into a mix of farmland and residences. MD 97 intersects the western terminus ofMD 496 (Bachmans Valley Road), and continues northwest through agricultural and wooded areas with intermittent residences. It passes throughUnion Mills, where the road intersects Old Hanover Road. MD 97 continues to the community ofSilver Run, where it passes residences. Upon leaving this community, the route continues through woods and farm fields.[1][2] A short distance later, MD 97 reaches thePennsylvania border, where the road becomesPA 97 and continues north intoAdams County.[2]
_at_Hoods_Mill_Road_in_Eldersburg%2c_Carroll_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
In 1911, Georgia Avenue was proposed as a state highway between the Washington, D.C. border and Brookeville.[6] This section of state highway was completed by 1915.[7] By 1921, a state highway was proposed between Roxbury Mills and Cooksville, with a small piece completed to the south of Cooksville. Also, a state highway was completed between Westminster and the Pennsylvania border, connecting to a road that continued northwest toGettysburg, Pennsylvania.[8] By 1923, the state road was finished between south of Cooksville and north of Roxbury Mills and to the north of Cooksville.[9] With the creation of theU.S. Highway System on November 11, 1926, the portion of present-day MD 97 north of Westminster was designated as part ofUS 140, a U.S. Highway that ran fromBaltimore to Gettysburg.[10][11] In addition, the portion of Georgia Avenue between Norbeck and Olney was designated as part of MD 28 in 1927.[11] The state highway was completed south to Roxbury Mills in 1928.[12] By 1933, the state road between Brookeville and Roxbury Mills was finished.[13]
MD 97 was designated by 1933 to run fromMD 27/MD 410 (now US 29) in Silver Spring to north of US 40 (now MD 144) in Cooksville.[13] In 1935, a state highway was finished south of the MD 26 intersection west ofEldersburg and heading south from MD 32 in Fenby.[14] Both these highways were extended south about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) in 1938.[15] In 1939, the state highway running south from MD 26 west of Eldersburg and from MD 32 south of Fenby were both designated asMD 570.[16] By 1946, the MD 28 concurrency between Norbeck and Olney was removed.[17] The southern section of MD 570 was extended south 0.5 miles (0.80 km) again in 1948.[18] MD 97 was widened into a divided highway between Silver Spring and Glenmont in 1950.[19]
_from_the_overpass_for_Interstate_495_(Capital_Beltway)_in_Silver_Spring%2c_Montgomery_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
In 1956, MD 97 was extended north toPA 16 at the Pennsylvania border northwest ofEmmitsburg,Frederick County. The route ran north from Cooksville to Fenby, replacing both sections of MD 570, before it replaced MD 32 from Fenby north to Westminster and northwest throughTaneytown and Emmitsburg.[20] In 1960, MD 97 was moved to a new alignment that bypassed Westminster along newly constructed New Washington Road between Fenby and US 140 and the Westminster Bypass to the northwest side of the city. MD 32 was designated onto the former alignment of MD 97 that passed through Westminster on Washington Road and Main Street.[21] In 1961, MD 97 was shifted to a new alignment to the east between MD 26 and MD 32; the former alignment became MD 854.[22] The intersection with MD 26 was replaced with an interchange in 1962.[23] In 1964, construction began on a new alignment of MD 97 slightly to the north between Westminster and Taneytown.[24] This alignment was completed in 1965, and the former alignment became a part of MD 32 (nowMD 832).[25] In 1966, the divided highway portion of MD 97 was extended north from Glenmont to MD 28 in Norbeck.[26]
In 1977, plans were made for US 140 to be decommissioned, with MD 97 to replace the section between Westminster and the Pennsylvania border, where it would connect to PA 97.[27] This proposal was made in order to eliminate short routes from the U.S. Highway System.[28] TheAmerican Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved the removal of the US 140 designation on October 28, 1977.[29] On January 1, 1979, MD 97 was rerouted at Westminster to head north to the Pennsylvania border, replacing US 140. At the Pennsylvania border, the route connected to PA 97, which replaced the US 140 designation in Pennsylvania.[28][30] Meanwhile, the former alignment of MD 97 between Westminster and the Pennsylvania border northwest of Emmitsburg became a part of MD 140.[30] Dualization of MD 97 in Montgomery County was extended further north from MD 28 to MD 108 by 1989.[31] An interchange was built with MD 200 (Intercounty Connector) north of MD 28, opening on February 23, 2011.[5] An interchange was built at the route’s intersection with Randolph Road in order to improve movements for automobiles as well as for pedestrians and bicycles accessing the nearby Glenmont Metro station.[32] Construction of the interchange at Randolph Road began in 2014 and was completed in 2018.[33]
On September 25, 2018, a groundbreaking was held for a $47.6 million project to build a relocated MD 97 around Brookeville, with GovernorLarry Hogan in attendance. The relocated MD 97 will be a two-lane road that will bypass the section through the center of Brookeville. The route was being realigned to improve safety and traffic flow, as the alignment of the route in Brookeville has a sharp turn and a steep hill.[34] In 2022, the relocated MD 97 around Brookeville was expected to open in the middle part of 2023.[35] The relocated MD 97 opened on May 21, 2023.[36]
| County | Location | mi [1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | Silver Spring | 0.00 | 0.00 |  US 29 (Georgia Avenue / Colesville Road) /MD 384 south (Colesville Road) –Washington | Southern terminus of MD 97; eastern terminus of MD 384; no access from southbound MD 97 to northbound US 29 or from eastbound MD 384 to northbound MD 97 |
| 0.91 | 1.46 |  MD 390 south (16th Street) –Washington | Northern terminus of MD 390; no direct access from northbound MD 97 to MD 390 | ||
| 1.44 | 2.32 |    I-495 (Capital Beltway) toI-95 –Baltimore,Northern Virginia | Exits 31A-B on I-495 | ||
| 1.61 | 2.59 |   MD 192 west (Forest Glen Road) –Kensington | Eastern terminus of MD 192 | ||
| Wheaton | 3.07 | 4.94 |  MD 586 west (Veirs Mill Road) –Rockville | No direct access from eastbound MD 586 to northbound MD 97; eastern terminus of MD 586 | |
| 3.47 | 5.58 |  MD 193 (University Boulevard) –Kensington,Kemp Mill | No direct access from eastbound MD 193 to northbound MD 97 or from westbound MD 193 to southbound MD 97 | ||
| Glenmont | 4.64 | 7.47 | Randolph Road | Interchange | |
| 4.81 | 7.74 |   MD 182 north (Layhill Road) | Southern terminus of MD 182 | ||
| Aspen Hill | 7.00 | 11.27 |  MD 185 south (Connecticut Avenue) / Connecticut Avenue north –North Kensington | Northern terminus of MD 185 | |
| Norbeck | 8.82 | 14.19 |    MD 28 (Norbeck Road) toMD 115 –Rockville,Burtonsville | ||
| 9.43 | 15.18 |    MD 200 Toll (Intercounty Connector) toI-95 /I-270 | Exits 8A-B on MD 200;E-ZPass orVideo Tolling | ||
| Olney | 11.89 | 19.14 |  MD 108 (Olney Sandy Spring Road) –Laytonsville,Ashton | ||
| | 17.02 | 27.39 |  MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue / Damascus Road) –Damascus,Ashton | ||
| Howard | Cooksville | 24.58 | 39.56 |  MD 144 (Frederick Road) –Lisbon,West Friendship | Former US 40 |
| 25.03 | 40.28 |   I-70 /US 40 –Baltimore,Frederick | Exit 76 on I-70 / US 40 | ||
| Carroll | | 32.48 | 52.27 |  MD 850 (Old Liberty Road) | Roundabout; former MD 26 |
| Eldersburg | 32.67 | 52.58 |  MD 26 (Liberty Road) –Libertytown,Eldersburg | Interchange | |
| Fenby | 39.39 | 63.39 |  MD 32 (Sykesville Road) –Gamber | ||
| Westminster | 42.57 | 68.51 |   MD 140 east (Baltimore Boulevard) –Baltimore | Southern terminus of concurrency with MD 140 | |
| 43.93 | 70.70 |  MD 27 (Manchester Road) –Downtown Westminster,Manchester,Hampstead | Interchange | ||
| 44.89 | 72.24 | MD 140 west (College View Boulevard) –Taneytown | Interchange; northern terminus of concurrency with MD 140 | ||
| | 47.29 | 76.11 |  MD 496 east (Bachmans Valley Road) –Melrose | Western terminus of MD 496 | |
| | 55.27 | 88.95 | PA 97 north (Baltimore Pike) –Littlestown,Gettysburg | Pennsylvania state line; northern terminus of MD 97 | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
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