 Maryland Route 36 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 MD 36 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained byMDSHA | ||||
| Length | 29.43 mi[1] (47.36 km) | |||
| Existed | 1927–present | |||
| Tourist routes |  Historic National Road Mountain Maryland Scenic Byway | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  WV 46 atWesternport | |||
| Major intersections |
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| North end | ||||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Maryland | |||
| Counties | Allegany | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Maryland Route 36 (also known asMD 36 orRoute 36) is a 29.43-mile (47.36 km)state highway located inAllegany County,Maryland,United States. MD 36's southern terminus is at theWest Virginia Route 46 (WV 46) bridge inWesternport and its northern terminus atU.S. Route 40 Alternate (US 40 Alt.) nearCumberland. Between Westernport andFrostburg, it is known as Georges Creek Road, and from Frostburg to Cumberland it is known as Mount Savage Road. Like the majority of Maryland state highways, MD 36 is maintained by theMaryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA).
MD 36 serves as the main road through theGeorges Creek Valley, a region which is historically known forcoal mining, and has been designated by MDSHA as part of the Coal Heritage Scenic Byway.[2] MD 36 is the main road connecting the towns of Westernport,Lonaconing, andMidland in southwestern Allegany County, as well as Frostburg,Mount Savage, andCorriganville in northwestern Allegany County.
MD 36 has two main sections: Georges Creek Road, which runs along theGeorges Creek Valley, fromWesternport toFrostburg in southwestern Allegany County, and Mount Savage Road, which runs eastward from Frostburg toCumberland in northwestern Allegany County. MD 36 is a part of theNational Highway System as a principal arterial fromInterstate 68 (I-68) to US 40 Alt. in Frostburg and from MD 35 at Corriganville to US 40 Alt. in Cumberland.[1][3]
_from_the_overpass_for_Waverly_Street_in_Westernport%2c_Allegany_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 36 begins at theWV 46 bridge in Westernport, crossingMD 135 in Westernport, and runs northeast across westernAllegany County as a two-lane undivided road named Georges Creek Road, named forGeorges Creek, aNorth Branch Potomac River tributary which the road parallels. The roadway also parallels theGeorges Creek Railway.[1] A short distance outside Westernport city limits, MD 36 intersectsMD 937, an old alignment of MD 36. NearBarton, MD 36 intersectsMD 935, which is the old alignment of MD 36 through Barton. MD 36 bypasses Barton, climbing the hillside above the Georges Creek Valley before descending back into the valley as it approachesLonaconing. MD 935 returns to MD 36 south of Lonaconing, with its northern terminus at MD 36.[1]
As the road enters Lonaconing, it narrows and passes through the town as Main Street, intersecting Douglas Avenue near the center of Lonaconing.[1] Along Main Street in Lonaconing is theLonaconing Iron Furnace, a historicblast furnace which operated in the early 19th century.[4]
_just_north_of_Hoffman_Hollow_Road_and_Cherry_Lane_in_Frostburg%2c_Allegany_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 36 then continues towardMidland. At Midland, there is a sharp curve in the road.[1] Along this curve, MD 36 intersects Church Street, which connects toMD 936, the old alignment of MD 36 between Midland and Frostburg. The new alignment of MD 36 proceeds northeast, passing nearVale Summit, where it intersectsMD 55.[1]
North of the MD 55 intersection, MD 36 passes west of apark and ride lot before it meetsI-68/US 40 at adiamond interchange at exit 34.[1] Near this interchange isGod's Ark of Safety, a church famous for its attempt to build a replica ofNoah's Ark.[5] Between Midland and Frostburg, there is a short section near the I-68/US 40 interchange where MD 36 expands to four lanes. Upon entering Frostburg, MD 36 joinsUS 40 Alt. as Main Street. MD 36 follows Main Street westward through Frostburg, meeting the northern terminus of MD 936 at Grant Street. At Depot Street, near the center of Frostburg, MD 36 connects to the western depot of theWestern Maryland Scenic Railroad. At the intersection with Water Street, MD 36 leaves US 40 Alt., and upon leaving Frostburg city limits its name changes to Mount Savage Road.[1]
After leaving Frostburg, MD 36 is known as Mount Savage Road, as it travels eastward, perpendicular to its signed direction, towardMount Savage. North ofEckhart Mines, MD 36 meetsMD 638, which connects MD 36 to US 40 Alt. in Eckhart Mines.[1] The road between Frostburg and Mount Savage is particularly curvy, and includes severalhairpin turns near Frostburg.[1]
As the road enters Mount Savage, it passes by theMount Savage Castle, a Scottish-style castle built in 1840, which currently operates as abed-and-breakfast. In Mount Savage, the route narrows as it follows Main Street.[1] East of Mount Savage, the route widens.[1]
InBarrelville, MD 36 intersectsMD 47, which connects it withPennsylvania Route 160 (PA 160) inSomerset County.[1] From its intersection with MD 47 to its terminus atCumberland, MD 36 follows newer alignments, with the old alignments being designatedMD 831. AtCorriganville, MD 36 intersectsMD 35, which connects it withPA 96 inBedford County.[1] MD 36 ends at US 40 Alt. at theNarrows near Cumberland.[1]
_at_Maryland_State_Route_936_(Church_Street)_in_Midland%2c_Allegany_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
MD 36 passes through theGeorges Creek Valley, which has a long history ofcoal mining. In recognition of this, theMDSHA has designated MD 36 as part of the Coal Heritage Scenic Byway.[2] Coal mining was a major industry in western Maryland in the 19th century, with railroads being the major route connecting the coal mines to markets outside the Georges Creek Valley.[6]Deep mining, which was the primary mining method used in western Maryland, declined in use afterWorld War II, replaced primarily bysurface mining.[7] Although Maryland coal production is now only a small fraction of total U.S. coal production,[7] coal from the Georges Creek Valley is used to power theAESWarrior Run power plant in Cumberland.[8]
MD 36 was assigned a route number before 1927, earlier than most of the other Maryland state highways.[9][10] The original alignment of MD 36 in southern Allegany County closely paralleled theGeorges Creek Railroad. Later realignments have shifted MD 36 away from the railroad in several locations, but three crossings remain: one north of Lonaconing, one south of Lonaconing near theMD 935 intersection,[11] and a third crossing near Westernport.[12]
Over the years, multiple new alignments of MD 36 have been built for various reasons, such as to smooth out curves in the road. Several of the old alignments have been assigned route numbers of their own. The southernmost of these isMD 937, which consists of the old alignment through Westernport. Prior to the construction of the bridge connecting MD 36 toWV 46, MD 937 was the alignment of MD 36 through Westernport, ending atMD 135. InBarton,MD 935 carries the old alignment of MD 36. The longest of the old alignment sections isMD 936, which runs from Midland to Frostburg, and was bypassed in the 1970s with a new alignment of MD 36 following part ofMD 55 and connecting toInterstate 68 (I-68). Prior to this change, MD 55 ended in Midland;[13] it has since been truncated to its current terminus at Vale Summit.[14]
North of Frostburg, several old alignments are designated asMD 831, though these segments of road are not signed. Among these segments of road are Kriegbaum Road (designated asMD 831C), and Old Mount Savage Road (designated asMD 831A). Kriegbaum Road splits from MD 36 west ofCorriganville and runs through Corriganville, returning to MD 36 east of the town. Old Mount Savage Road intersects MD 36 west of theCumberland Narrows, and runs southward to intersect US 40 Alt. near its current intersection with MD 36.[1]
The entire route is inAllegany County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westernport | 0.00 | 0.00 |  WV 46 east (Ashfield Street) –Piedmont | West Virginia state line atNorth Branch Potomac River; southern terminus | |
| 0.06 | 0.097 |  MD 135 (Church Street) –Luke,McCoole | |||
| 1.44 | 2.32 |   MD 937 south (Creek Side Drive) –Franklin | Northern terminus of MD 937; former alignment of MD 36 | ||
| Barton | 4.07 | 6.55 |   MD 935 north (Legislative Road) | Southern terminus of MD 935; former alignment of MD 36 | |
| Lonaconing | 6.85 | 11.02 | MD 935 south (Legislative Road) | Northern terminus of MD 935 | |
| 8.03 | 12.92 | Douglas Avenue north | FormerMD 657 | ||
| Midland | 11.06 | 17.80 |  MD 936 north via Church Street | Southern terminus of MD 936; former alignment of MD 36 | |
| Vale Summit | 14.04 | 22.60 |  MD 55 north (Vale Summit Road) –Clarysville | Southern terminus of MD 55 | |
| Frostburg | 15.05 | 24.22 |   I-68 /US 40 (National Freeway) –Cumberland,Morgantown | Exit 34 on I-68 | |
| 16.44 | 26.46 |  MD 743 east (Old National Pike) –Eckhart Mines | Western terminus of MD 743 | ||
| 16.53 | 26.60 |  US 40 Alt. east (National Pike) –Cumberland | South end of US 40 Alt. overlap | ||
| 17.07 | 27.47 | MD 936 south (Grant Street) | Northern terminus of MD 936 | ||
| 17.60 | 28.32 |  US 40 Alt. west (National Pike) | North end of US 40 Alt. overlap | ||
| Zihlman | 20.36 | 32.77 |  MD 638 south (Parkersburg Road) –Eckhart Mines | Northern terminus of MD 638 | |
| Barrelville | 24.34 | 39.17 |  MD 47 north (Barrelville Road) –Barrelville | Southern terminus of MD 47; connects MD 36 toPA 160 | |
| Corriganville | 26.64 | 42.87 |  MD 831 east (Kreigbaum Road) | Western terminus of MD 831; officially MD 831C; former alignment of MD 36 | |
| 27.34 | 44.00 |  MD 35 north (Ellerslie Road) –Ellerslie | Southern terminus of MD 35; connects MD 36 toPA 96 | ||
| 27.51 | 44.27 | MD 831 west (Kreigbaum Road) | Eastern terminus of MD 831; officially MD 831C | ||
| Cumberland | 29.05 | 46.75 | MD 831 south (Old Mount Savage Road) | Northern terminus of MD 831; officially MD 831A; former alignment of MD 36 | |
| 29.43 | 47.36 | US 40 Alt. (National Pike) –Cumberland,Frostburg | Northern terminus | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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