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| Maryland Route 228 | |
|---|---|
| State | MD |
| Type | MD |
| Route | 228 |
| Length mi | 4.37 |
| Established | 1946 |
| Direction a | West |
| Terminus a | Potomac Creek Road |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus b | Darnestown Road |
| Counties | Charles County |
| Previous type | MD |
| Previous route | 227 |
| Next type | MD |
| Next route | 229 |
Maryland Route 228 is a state highway in Maryland connecting suburban and rural communities in Charles County between intersections with MD 210 and Indian Head Highway near Indian Head and the vicinity of Germantown and Potomac. The highway serves residential areas, commercial centers, and commuter corridors linking to I-270, I‑495, and regional arteries such as MD 5 and US 301. The route supports traffic between Washington, D.C. and southern Maryland, intersecting several local and state roads that serve National Harbor, Joint Base Andrews, and historical sites like Battle of Bladensburg-era locations.
MD 228 begins at an intersection with MD 210 near the community of Accokeek and proceeds eastward through suburban neighborhoods adjacent to Judge Henry Cesky Park and commercial nodes serving commuters to Washington, D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore. The road crosses tributaries of the Potomac River in landscapes near conservation areas linked with Piscataway Park and passes near recreational facilities associated with National Capital Parks-East and Oxon Cove and Oxon Hill Farm. Traveling east, the highway intersects county routes that provide access to schools administered by Charles County Public Schools, health services affiliated with MedStar Health and University of Maryland Medical System, and retail centers anchored by firms with ties to Washington Metro commuting patterns. Approaching its eastern terminus, the route widens to accommodate traffic bound for Indian Head and industrial facilities historically connected to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division and the Patuxent River Naval Air Station logistics network.
The alignment that became MD 228 was developed in the mid-20th century as Charles County transformed from agricultural estates associated with families linked to Plantation of Maryland history into suburban subdivisions influenced by the expansion of US 50 and the federal workforce centered in Washington, D.C.. The route received its state designation in 1946 amid statewide improvements led by the Maryland State Roads Commission and postwar projects funded through programs championed by political figures such as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations allies and officials from the State of Maryland Department of Transportation. Subsequent decades saw upgrades tied to regional planning initiatives involving the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, federal transportation grants influenced by legislation like the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, and local ordinances enacted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. Construction phases paralleled developments around Joint Base Andrews and commercial growth near National Harbor and were coordinated with utility relocations by entities such as Pepco and Washington Gas. Modernization included resurfacing projects, intersection improvements reflecting traffic studies from consultants working with the Maryland Transportation Authority and local transit agencies.
Major intersections along the route provide connections to commuter and regional corridors such as MD 210 at the western terminus, county arteries linking to US 301, and feeder roads that serve neighborhoods commuting to I-495 and I-270. Intersections are configured to accommodate routing toward Washington Metro stations on the Red Line and Blue/Orange/Silver Lines via park-and-ride facilities. Nearby junctions offer access to municipal services coordinated with Charles County Sheriff's Office planning and regional emergency management led by Maryland Emergency Management Agency.
Planned improvements for the corridor are part of broader initiatives by the Maryland Department of Transportation and Charles County to enhance capacity, safety, and multimodal connections for commuters to Washington, D.C. Future projects under study include intersection upgrades funded through state capital programs influenced by federal transportation policy and potential transit-oriented developments modeled after projects near New Carrollton station and Greenbelt. Proposals involve coordination with environmental regulators such as the Maryland Department of the Environment and preservation groups connected to Chesapeake Bay Foundation and National Park Service stewardship near the Potomac River corridor. Long-range planning documents from the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board incorporate traffic forecasts tied to regional employment centers like Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The route interfaces with Maryland state highways including MD 210, MD 5, and provides links facilitating access to US 50 corridors and I-95 via connecting roads. Public transit services that serve portions of the corridor are operated or coordinated by agencies such as Maryland Transit Administration, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, and regional bus operators connecting to WMATA rail stations. Freight and logistics movements use nearby facilities tied to CSX Transportation and short-line rail connections that support supply chains involving the Port of Baltimore and defense contracting hubs serving Naval Support Facility Indian Head.
A junction list identifies the western terminus at MD 210, intermediate crossings with county roads and collectors providing local access to Piscataway Park and community centers, and the eastern terminus serving approaches to Indian Head infrastructure. Traffic counts collected by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration show variations reflecting commuter peaks to Washington, D.C. and seasonal recreational travel to the Potomac River waterfront; these counts inform capital programming and maintenance schedules overseen by the Maryland Highway Safety Office.
Category:State highways in Maryland Category:Transportation in Charles County, Maryland