Technically, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway begins at the DC/MD line on US 50, and then exits onto the through route that can generally be called 295. What I just called "295" starts life as I-295, then becomes DC 295 when I-295 exits over the 11th St. Bridge. When it hits the state line, DC 295 becomes MD 201, which leaves the freeway at US 50 to become Kenilworth Ave. At that point, the freeway becomes just the B-W Parkway, although Maryland pretends it's MD 295. Finally, once the Parkway ends it's officially MD 295 and signed as such. The I-295 shield here should really be a DC 295 shield, even if that road does eventually lead to the Interstate.


My guess is that originally there was a larger (regular-size) MD 202 shield centered on these signs, and for some reason its alter ego wanted to make itself known.


In both directions in the vicinity of I-95, pull-through BGS's have a little extra space, and that space would be for I-595. US 50 actually is secretly I-595, but it isn't signed because US 50 and 301 (once they come together) take up enough room on BGS's, and the road has been known as 50 anyway.


The secret existence of I-595 allows a 2di to begin here at a pair of US routes. I-97 would be much better as part of I-83 since 97 is the shortest mainland 2di. It was built up over divided expressways, and was part of a larger plan to have an I-197 near Annapolis, an I-297 over the current route and back down 50/301 (instead of 595), and 97 be on a more westerly alignment along MD 3. Even with all that, it would still be way too short. Photo courtesy Doug Kerr.


EB approaching MD 213, former US 213 that followed what's now the US 50 corridor to Ocean City.


MD 662, former US 50, NB next to Chesapeake College (just shy of US 50). This sign reads like a very poorly worded ad.


And MD 662 SB. The building here, if you read the sign, is not the schoolhouse, but it's still a quaint farm and happens to be red. (Of course, at speed, I didn't have time to read the sign text so I assumed they were related.)


Old US 50, Washington St., SB in Easton. The town likes arrows and red lights an awful lot. So put them together and you get the confusion seen here at Goldsborough and Dover Streets. If you're lucky enough to get a quadruple red light, you can jump out of the car and photograph the historical sign between them.


Magnificent and obviously pricey Tidewater Inn on the corner of Washington and Dover.


Bus Business 50 appears on the US 13/50 duplex outside Salisbury (heading southeast).

Old US 50, MD 450

Onto the Balto-Wash Parkway
To I-295
Exit 7 to I-95 or I-495 (with 95)
Onto US 301
Back to Maryland Roads
Back to Roads