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I-68
· National Freeway
81.09 mi. in Maryland; from WV Line east to I-70, Hancock.
Marked east-west.
Plans for the National Freeway were first conceived in the 1970s, as a means to enhance access to the far western counties of Allegany and Garrett, which hitherto relied upon US 40 for all east-west travel. The region was better linked geographically and economically to adjacent parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania than to the rest of Maryland. US 48 was then assigned to the completed sections off I-70 in Hancock and the original US 40 Bypass in Cumberland, and multiplexed with US 40 in incomplete areas. I-68 is touted by Maryland as the 'new route west' by several signs along westbound I-70, an alternative to Breezewood and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It didn't start out that way. The state originally had no intent to give the National Freeway Interstate status, and planned to leave it as US 48, especially given the substandard 1960s vintage elevated section near Cumberland. I-68 was being reserved for the section of US 50 from Washington to Annapolis that had been constructed with Interstate funds. SHA later decided to keep 50 as the sole number on that stretch, shaking loose the I-68 number; it's secretly numbered I-595 today. About the same time, circa 1991, the final section of full limited access highway was completed, upon which it was decided to change the National Freeway from US 48 to I-68. Other Resources: |
68
0.0 WV Line3.8 4 MD 42 13.8 14 US 40* 13.8 14 US 219* 19.2 19 MD 495 22.2 22 US 219* 24.0 24 Lower New Germany Rd. 29.8 29 Md 546 31.8 GA-AL Line 33.3 33 MD 736 33.3 33 Midlothian 35.0 34 MD 36 39.2 39 MD 53 39.9 40 MD 658 42.3 42 US 219 42.3 42 Greene 43.6 43a Johnson 43.9 43bc S. Mechanic 44.2 43d Park 44.9 44 US 40 Alt 44.9 44 MD 639 45.8 45 MD 952 46.5 46 US 220 46.5 46 MD 144 47.2 47 MD 144 51.3 50 MD 948 51.3 50 Pleasant Valley 52.5 52 MD 144 55.6 56 MD 144 62.9 62 US 40 Scenic 64.2 64 MV Smith Rd. 68.7 68 Orleans Rd. 71.6 72 High Germany Rd. 72.1 AL-WA Line 73.6 74 MD 903 77.2 77 MD 144 81.1 82 I-70 1 81.1 82 US 522 1 |
