Maryland Route 355

Maryland Route 355 is a major north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning approximately 40.30 miles (64.86 km), it connects the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with Frederick and points north into Pennsylvania. The route serves as a primary commercial and commuter corridor through central Montgomery County and Frederick County, passing numerous significant landmarks and institutions.

Route description

Maryland Route 355 begins at a complex interchange with Interstate 495 (the Capital Beltway) and Interstate 270 in Bethesda. From there, it heads north as a multi-lane divided arterial road, known locally as Rockville Pike, through the densely populated suburbs of Montgomery County. It passes major hubs like the National Institutes of Health campus, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and the Strathmore music venue. The route continues through the city of Rockville, where it passes the Montgomery County Circuit Court and serves as a main street, before proceeding through Gaithersburg near the National Institute of Standards and Technology. North of Germantown, the character shifts to a more rural highway as it enters Frederick County, eventually entering the city of Frederick. Through Frederick, it follows Market Street, passing historic sites like Frederick City Hall and the Barbara Fritchie House, before terminating at the Pennsylvania state line, where it continues as Pennsylvania Route 316.

History

The corridor of Maryland Route 355 has been a significant transportation path since the colonial era, following portions of an old Native American trail and later a turnpike connecting Rockville and Frederick. The state assumed control of the road in the early 20th century as part of the expanding state highway system. Major improvements were made throughout the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate post-war suburban growth from Washington, D.C., including widening and realignment projects. The construction of the Interstate Highway System, particularly Interstate 270 which parallels much of MD 355, altered its role from a primary long-distance route to a vital local and commeter artery. The route's path through downtown Frederick was designated part of the National Road (U.S. Route 40) for several decades before that designation was moved to an alternate alignment.

Major intersections

Major junctions along Maryland Route 355 are listed from south to north. The route begins at the Interstate 495/Interstate 270 interchange in Bethesda. It intersects Maryland Route 410 (East-West Highway) in Bethesda and Maryland Route 28 (Montrose Road) in North Bethesda. In Rockville, it meets Maryland Route 28 again, Maryland Route 189 (Falls Road), and Maryland Route 586 (Veirs Mill Road). Further north in Gaithersburg, key intersections include Maryland Route 124 (Woodfield Road) and Maryland Route 117 (Clopper Road). In Frederick, it crosses U.S. Route 40 (Patrick Street) and U.S. Route 15 (the Catoctin Mountain Highway). The route terminates at the Pennsylvania state line, where it continues as Pennsylvania Route 316.

Auxiliary routes

Maryland Route 355 has several auxiliary routes, primarily business routes serving downtown areas. Maryland Route 355A is a business route through downtown Gaithersburg. Maryland Route 355B is a business route through downtown Frederick, following the original alignment along Market Street. There have also been former spur routes and alternate alignments designated over the years to manage traffic flow around developing commercial centers like Montgomery Mall and the Lakeforest Mall area. These business routes typically connect back to the main MD 355 alignment after passing through historic commercial districts.

Category:State highways in Maryland