Maryland Route 23

Maryland Route 23
State	MD
Type	MD
Route	23
Length mi	17.32
Established	1927
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Pennsylvania
Direction b	East
Terminus b	U.S. Route 1
Counties	Harford County

Maryland Route 23 is a state highway in Harford County that runs roughly east–west from the Pennsylvania state line to U.S. Route 1 near Bel Air. The route connects rural communities, suburban neighborhoods, and historic sites, providing links to Interstate 95, Maryland Route 24, and local roads serving Edgewood, Forest Hill, and Pylesville. Established in 1927, the highway has evolved with improvements related to regional growth, transportation planning, and preservation concerns involving places such as Ladew Topiary Gardens and Rockfield Manor.

Route description

MD 23 begins at the Pennsylvania–Maryland border where it connects with Pennsylvania Route 151. From the state line the highway heads southeast toward Pylesville, intersecting county routes that serve landmarks like New Bethel Church and agricultural areas tied historically to families such as the Beard family. Continuing toward Forest Hill, the route crosses streams feeding the Susquehanna River and passes near sites such as Ladew Gardens and the Joppa Iron Works heritage area. Approaching Bel Air, MD 23 has junctions with Maryland Route 165, Maryland Route 24, and ramps to I-95 that serve commuters bound for Baltimore and Wilmington.

The corridor traverses mixed zones of Harford County including residential suburbs, preserved farmland, and historic districts like those associated with Rockfield Manor and the Mount Clare family holdings. Roadway features include two-lane sections, center turn lanes, and divided segments designed for increased capacity near commercial nodes such as the Bel Air North Historic District and shopping areas adjacent to US 1. MD 23 serves as a connector for regional transit routes run by Harford County Transit and provides access to trailheads for the Ma and Pa Trail and recreational areas near the Gunpowder Falls State Park watershed.

History

The designation assigned in 1927 reflected state efforts contemporaneous with projects like the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 and the later Federal Highway Act of 1921 that reshaped regional routes. Early 20th-century turnpike and county road improvements in Harford County paralleled broader infrastructure investments with contractors and engineering firms associated with projects similar to those on U.S. Route 40. During the 1930s and 1940s, parts of the corridor were paved and realigned to meet standards influenced by practices at the American Association of State Highway Officials; county records cite bridge work over tributaries linked to the Susquehanna River watershed.

Postwar suburbanization that involved communities like Edgewood and Aberdeen increased traffic pressures, prompting widening projects in the 1960s and 1970s similar to improvements undertaken on Maryland Route 22. Interchanges with I-95 and upgrades near Bel Air occurred amid planning efforts by state agencies and local governments, interacting with preservationists concerned with properties like Rockfield Manor and cultural institutions such as Harford County Historical Society. More recent decades saw safety and capacity improvements funded under statewide programs resembling initiatives for Maryland Route 140 and coordinated with environmental reviews referencing the National Environmental Policy Act.

Major intersections

(Note: mileposts measured from the Pennsylvania line eastward) - Pennsylvania state line — connects to Pennsylvania Route 151 toward Coraopolis and Connellsville. - Intersection with Maryland Route 165 near Pylesville and access to Susquehanna State Park recreational lands. - Junction with Maryland Route 24 providing links to Edgewood, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Bel Air. - Interchange with I-95 offering regional access to Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia. - Eastern terminus at U.S. Route 1 near Bel Air and routes toward Joppatowne and Elkton.

Auxiliary routes

Several short connectors and service roads function as MD 23 auxiliary links, comparable to auxiliary routings in Maryland such as spurs tied to Maryland Route 24 or frontage roads near I-695. These include former alignments repurposed as local roads that provide access to historic properties like Ladew Topiary Gardens and community facilities administered by entities including Harford County Public Library branches and Harford County Public Schools. Maintenance responsibilities often involve coordination among Maryland Department of Transportation, Harford County Government, and local utility districts similar to arrangements used for Maryland Route 7 service roads.

Future plans and improvements

Planned work on MD 23 has focused on safety, capacity, and multimodal access reflecting priorities similar to statewide programs affecting routes such as Maryland Route 2 and Maryland Route 3. Proposals considered by Maryland Department of Transportation and Harford County Council have included intersection upgrades, turn-lane additions, and pedestrian-bicycle accommodations to improve connections to transit stops served by Harford County Transit and to trails like the Ma and Pa Trail. Environmental assessments have referenced protections for watersheds feeding the Gunpowder Falls State Park and historic preservation concerns involving sites like Rockfield Manor and the Ladew estate.

Funding and phasing draw on federal programs analogous to the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program and state capital budgets overseen by the Maryland General Assembly, with coordination expected among stakeholders such as Maryland State Highway Administration, local municipalities, and preservation groups including the Harford County Historical Society. Planned timelines are subject to approvals, design studies, and public comment processes similar to those conducted for projects on US 40 and Maryland Route 24.

Category:State highways in Maryland Category:Harford County, Maryland