Pulaski Highway

Pulaski Highway is the name for a segment of U.S. Route 40 in the U.S. state of Maryland, running approximately 35 miles from Baltimore east to the Delaware state line near Wilmington. This major arterial roadway serves as a critical commercial and commuter corridor, connecting the Port of Baltimore with Interstate 95 and points north along the Northeast Corridor. The highway is named in honor of Casimir Pulaski, the Polish-born cavalry officer who fought and died in the American Revolutionary War.

Route description

Beginning at an interchange with Interstate 95 and Interstate 895 in eastern Baltimore, Pulaski Highway heads northeast as a multi-lane divided roadway. It passes through the industrial and commercial landscapes of Baltimore County, serving areas like Rosedale and White Marsh, where it intersects key routes such as Maryland Route 7 and Maryland Route 43. The highway continues into Harford County, traversing the communities of Joppatowne and Aberdeen, home to the United States Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground. Its eastern terminus is at the Delaware state line, where it continues as another segment of U.S. Route 40 toward Wilmington and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

History

The roadway's path follows one of the oldest transportation corridors in the region, tracing portions of the historic Baltimore and Havre de Grace Turnpike and the earlier post road system. With the federal creation of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926, this corridor was designated as part of U.S. Route 40, a major transcontinental highway. The "Pulaski Highway" name was officially adopted by the Maryland General Assembly in the 1930s to honor Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolutionary War celebrated for his service under General George Washington. Throughout the mid-20th century, the route was progressively widened and modernized to accommodate growing traffic from the Port of Baltimore and military installations like the Aberdeen Proving Ground and Edgewood Arsenal.

Major intersections

From west to east, Pulaski Highway intersects numerous significant state and federal routes. In Baltimore City, it begins at the complex interchange with Interstate 95 and Interstate 895, known as the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Key junctions in Baltimore County include Maryland Route 7 (Philadelphia Road) in Rosedale and Maryland Route 43 (White Marsh Boulevard) near the White Marsh commercial area. Within Harford County, major intersections comprise Maryland Route 24 (Mountain Road) in Edgewood, Maryland Route 543 (Riverside Parkway) serving Aberdeen Proving Ground, and U.S. Route 1 (Bel Air Bypass) in Aberdeen. The highway meets its eastern terminus at the Delaware border, where it continues toward Wilmington.

Public transportation

Public transit along the Pulaski Highway corridor is primarily provided by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). Local bus service, notably the **Route 4** line, operates along much of the highway, connecting downtown Baltimore with communities like Rosedale, Edgewood, and Aberdeen. The MTA's **Express BusLink** service also utilizes portions of the highway for commuter routes to Baltimore. Additionally, the region is served by Harford Transit, which offers local bus connections linking residential areas to major commercial hubs and transfer points along the route, such as the White Marsh park-and-ride lot.

Category:U.S. Route 40 Category:Transportation in Maryland Category:Roads in Baltimore County, Maryland Category:Roads in Harford County, Maryland