Maryland Route 97

Maryland Route 97 is a state highway in the United States that runs through Maryland, connecting Columbia to Littlestown, passing through Howard County, Carroll County, and Frederick County. The route intersects with several major highways, including Interstate 70, United States Route 40, and Maryland Route 26. It also passes near several notable landmarks, such as Patapsco Valley State Park, McDaniel College, and Fort Detrick.

● Route Description

Maryland Route 97 begins at an intersection with United States Route 29 in Columbia, a planned community developed by James Rouse and designed by Architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. From there, it heads north through Howard County, passing near Centennial Lake, a popular spot for Fishing and Boating, and The Mall in Columbia, a large shopping center owned by Simon Property Group. The route then enters Carroll County, where it intersects with Maryland Route 26 and passes near McDaniel College, a liberal arts college founded in 1867 by Baker Memorial Church. As it continues north, the route passes through the Catoctin Mountain range, which is home to Catoctin Mountain Park, a unit of the National Park Service.

● History

The route was established in 1927 as one of the original state highways in Maryland, with the goal of connecting Baltimore to Hagerstown and Chambersburg. Over the years, the route has undergone several changes, including realignments and upgrades to improve safety and traffic flow. In the 1950s, the route was widened and paved, and in the 1970s, it was upgraded to a divided highway in some sections. Today, the route is an important transportation artery, carrying traffic between Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, and passing near several major employers, including Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

● Junction List

The route intersects with several major highways, including Interstate 70, United States Route 40, and Maryland Route 26. It also passes near several notable landmarks, such as Patapsco Valley State Park, McDaniel College, and Fort Detrick. The route is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and maintenance of the state's highway system, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. The route is also monitored by the Maryland Transportation Authority, which operates the state's toll roads and bridges, including the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.

● Major Intersections

The route has several major intersections, including Interstate 70 in Howard County, United States Route 40 in Carroll County, and Maryland Route 26 in Frederick County. It also passes near several notable landmarks, such as Gettysburg National Military Park, Antietam National Battlefield, and Catoctin Mountain Park. The route is an important transportation artery, carrying traffic between Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, and passing near several major employers, including Fort Detrick, National Institutes of Health, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The route is also close to several institutions of higher education, including McDaniel College, Hood College, and Mount St. Mary's University.

● Roadway Characteristics

The route is a two- to four-lane highway, with a speed limit of 55 mph to 65 mph in most sections. The route is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and maintenance of the state's highway system, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. The route passes through a variety of landscapes, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, and is characterized by rolling hills, wooded areas, and scenic vistas. The route is also close to several major waterways, including the Patapsco River, Monocacy River, and Potomac River, and passes near several parks and recreational areas, including Patapsco Valley State Park, Catoctin Mountain Park, and Gettysburg National Military Park. Category:State highways in Maryland