Maryland Route 320

Maryland Route 320 (MD 320) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Piney Branch Road, the highway runs 2.84 miles (4.57 km) from Eastern Avenue at the District of Columbia boundary in Takoma Park north to MD 650 in Adelphi. MD 320 is a southwest–northeast highway that connects Takoma Park and Silver Spring in southeastern Montgomery County with Adelphi in far western Prince George's County. The state highway originally extended from downtown Silver Spring to White Oak and connected with U.S. Route 29 (US 29) at both ends. The Silver Spring–Adelphi portion of the highway was constructed by 1910. The segment through Takoma Park and the Adelphi–White Oak segment, which later became MD 650, were built in the early 1930s; the Takoma Park portion was built as MD 513. MD 320 was widened over its whole length in the late 1940s and reduced to its present course in the mid-1950s.

Maryland Route 320
Piney Branch Road
Maryland Route 320 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length2.84 mi[1] (4.57 km)
Existed1927–present
Major junctions
South endPiney Branch Road at the District of Columbia boundary in Takoma Park
 
North end MD 650 in Adelphi
Location
CountiesMontgomery, Prince George's
Highway system
← MD 318MD 322 →

Route description
View north along MD 320 at MD 193 in Silver Spring
MD 320 southbound at Manchester Road in Silver Spring

MD 320 begins at the intersection of Piney Branch Road and Eastern Avenue at the District of Columbia boundary in the city of Takoma Park. Piney Branch Road continues southwest into Washington, where it immediately passes under CSX's Metropolitan Subdivision and the Washington Metro's Red Line. Eastern Avenue provides access to the Takoma station on the Red Line and the Takoma Park Historic District to the southeast; the street also leads to the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus of Montgomery College to the northwest. MD 320 heads northeast as a narrow two-lane undivided road. The highway expands as it veers north at one-way Chestnut Avenue and intersects MD 410 (Philadelphia Avenue). The highway curves northeast and gains a center turn lane as it leaves the city of Takoma Park and passes west of Takoma Park Middle School.[1][2]

MD 320 parallels the city limits to Mississippi Avenue, where the highway fully enters the unincorporated area of Silver Spring. MD 320 intersects Sligo Avenue and Dale Drive, then descends into the valley of Sligo Creek. The highway crosses the creek and intersects Sligo Creek Parkway and the Sligo Creek Trail. At the top of its climb out of the creek valley, MD 320 intersects Flower Avenue, which was formerly MD 787. The highway continues east as a four-lane road with center turn lane, crossing Long Branch before intersecting MD 193 (University Boulevard). Beyond MD 193, MD 320 descends into the valley of Northwest Branch. The highway meets the northern end of Carroll Avenue, which leads south to MD 195. MD 320 crosses the Montgomery–Prince George's County line and crosses Northwest Branch before it reaches its northern terminus at MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) in Adelphi.[1][2]

History

Maryland Route 513
LocationTakoma Park
Existed1932–1955

MD 320 originally had its southern terminus at the intersection of US 29 and Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring. The highway followed Sligo Avenue east to Piney Branch Road, then followed Piney Branch Road northeast to Adelphi. MD 320 continued roughly along what is now New Hampshire Road to its northern terminus at US 29, which is now the intersection of MD 650 and Lockwood Drive in White Oak.[3] The portion of this highway from modern US 29 to Carroll Avenue was paved by Montgomery County with state aid as a macadam road by 1910.[4][5] Sligo Avenue was widened with a pair of 3-foot-wide (0.91 m) concrete shoulders in 1926.[6] MD 320 was extended north as a 18-foot-wide (5.5 m) macadam road from Carroll Avenue through Prince George's County to White Oak in 1931 and 1932.[7][8] The portion of MD 320 south of Sligo Avenue was built in two segments. The first segment, from the District of Columbia to Chestnut Avenue just south of MD 410, was a concrete reconstruction of Saratoga Avenue. The second segment, from Chestnut Avenue to Sligo Avenue, was a concrete road built on a new alignment.[9] Both segments were constructed in 1931 and 1932 and were designated MD 513.[3][7]

MD 513 was widened with a pair of 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) bituminous shoulders from MD 410 toward Sligo Avenue in 1942.[10] MD 320 was expanded to a width of 24 feet (7.3 m) and resurfaced over its entire length in 1947 and 1948.[8][11] MD 320's bridge across Long Branch was widened in 1953 and 1954.[12] The highway's bridge across Northwest Branch at the MD 650 junction, which had originally been built in 1910, was widened in 1954 and 1955.[13][14] MD 320 was placed on its present course in 1955; its northern end was truncated at MD 650.[15] Its southern portion was moved from Sligo Avenue and replaced MD 513 through Takoma Park; Sligo Avenue was redesignated MD 339.[15][16] MD 339 was removed from the state highway system by 1999.[17]

Junction list
CountyLocationmi
[1]		kmDestinationsNotes
MontgomeryTakoma Park0.000.00Eastern Avenue / Piney Branch Road south – WashingtonDistrict of Columbia boundary; southern terminus
0.390.63 MD 410 (Philadelphia Avenue) – Hyattsville, Silver Spring
Silver Spring1.432.30Sligo Creek Parkway
2.093.36 MD 193 (University Boulevard) – Wheaton, Langley Park
Prince George'sAdelphi2.844.57 MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) – White Oak, Langley ParkNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
  •  Maryland Roads portal

References
  1. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  2. Staff. Maryland General Highway Statewide Grid Map (PDF) (Map) (2013 ed.). Maryland State Highway Administration. § F11A. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  3. Maryland State Roads Commission (1939). General Highway Map: State of Maryland (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  4. Maryland Geological Survey (1910). Map of Maryland (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  5. Maryland Geological Survey (1921). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  6. Mackall, John N.; Darnall, R. Bennett; Brown, W.W. (January 1927). Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1924–1926 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. pp. 42, 90. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  7. Byron, William D.; Lacy, Robert (December 28, 1934). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1931–1934 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. pp. 344–345. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  8. Reindollar, Robert M.; George, Joseph M.; McCain, Russell H. (February 15, 1949). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1947–1948 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. pp. 19–20, 114. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  9. Maryland Geological Survey (1933). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  10. Whitman, Ezra B.; Webb, P. Watson; Thomas, W. Frank (March 15, 1943). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1941–1942 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 58. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  11. Reindollar, Robert M.; George, Joseph M.; McCain, Russell H. (December 20, 1950). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1949–1950 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 37. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  12. McCain, Russell H.; Bennett, Edgar T.; Kelly, Bramwell (November 12, 1954). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1953–1954 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 166. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  13. Bonnell, Robert O.; Bennett, Edgar T.; McMullen, John J. (November 2, 1956). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1955–1956 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 152. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  14. Federal Highway Administration (2012). "NBI Structure Number: 100000160065010". National Bridge Inventory. Federal Highway Administration.
  15. Maryland State Roads Commission (1955). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  16. Washington West, DC quadrangle (Map) (1956 ed.). 1:24,000. 7 1/2 Minute Series (Topographic). United States Geological Survey.
  17. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 1999). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2014-01-09.

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