Maryland Route 4

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MD Route 4
St. Andrews Church Road, Patuxent Beach Road, Solomons Island Road, Southern Maryland Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue Maintained by MDSHA
Length:	64.85 mi[1] (104.37 km)
South end:	MD 5 near Leonardtown
Major junctions:	MD 235 in California MD 2 (south) in Solomons Island MD 231 in Prince Frederick MD 2 (north) in Sunderland US 301 in Upper Marlboro The Suitland Parkway near Andrews Air Force Base I-95/I-495 in Forestville
Northwest end:	Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Highways in Maryland < MD 3 MD 5 > State highways - Minor - Former - Turnpikes

Maryland Route 4 is a long road that runs northwest to southeast in Maryland. For all but 10 of its 65 miles it is within the Patuxent River watershed, a river that it crosses twice.

[edit] Counties traversed

• Prince George's County
• Anne Arundel County
• Calvert County
• St. Mary's County

[edit] Cities and towns

MD 4 directly serves the following cities and towns:

• Suitland
• District Heights/Forestville
• Meadows
• Upper Marlboro
• Waysons Corner (mailing address Lothian)
• Bristol
• Lyons Creek
• Dunkirk
• Chaneyville
• Sunderland
• Stoakley
• Huntingtown
• Prince Frederick
• Port Republic
• St. Leonard
• Lusby
• Solomons
• California
• Town Creek
• Leonardtown

[edit] Route description

[edit] Pennsylvania Avenue

Maryland Route 4 begins in Prince Georges County near Cedar Hill Cemetery at Southern Ave., the state line with Washington, DC. Pennsylvania Avenue within the District was formerly known as District of Columbia Route 4). MD 4 once exited the District along Marlboro Pike, but was diverted to its current route, known as Pennsylvania Ave. when the latter was extended into Maryland as a four-lane divided highway.

The road runs out of D.C. to the southeast, interchanging with the Capital Beltway just north of the Suitland Parkway in Forestville. The route continues southeastward and shortly intersects with the eastern terminus of the Suitland Parkway. It continues southeastward for a short distance before intersecting Woodyard Rd. near Marlboro Pike. It then turns east and upgrades into a four-lane limited-access freeway.

Running almost due east, MD 4 runs through rapdily developing areas, intersecting various local roads as it continues away from Washington. It interchanges with the southern terminus of Ritchie-Marlboro Rd. near Federal Springs Park. As it enters the county seat of Upper Marlboro it interchanges with Old Crain Highway (a former alignment of US 301) and Water St (a short connector into the downtown area). The intersection with US 301 itself is the third interchange in 1.5 miles.

[edit] Southern Maryland Blvd.

After crossing the Patuxent River at Hills Bridge, where a bridge has existed since 1855, entering Anne Arundel County at Waysons Corner, and immediately intersecting the western terminus of MD 408, the route becomes known as Southern Maryland Boulevard. Parts of Patuxent River Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and Patuxent Wetland Park are visible at this popular fishing and paddling put-in location. Rt. 408 was originally part of MD 4 before the construction of the current Rt. 4 alignment from Waysons Corner to Bristol in 1964-1966. Turning southeast, the road intersects the western terminus of MD 258 in Bristol. Beyond the MD 258 intersection, MD 4 turns south and downgrades into a four-lane at-grade divided highway. The road interchanges with the northwestern terminus of MD 260 at the Calvert County line at Lyons Creek. It continues south, running along the eastern boundary of Dunkirk District Park in Dunkirk.

[edit] MD 2-4 (Solomons Island Road)

The main Calvert County artery

Route 4 meets with Solomons Island Road Maryland Route 2 near the town of Sunderland at the Lower Marlboro Road (MD 262) junction. "Route 2/4" continues south for 26.9 miles, and both are known as Solomons Island Road.

The road continues running nearly due south, intersecting the western end of MD 575 north of Huntingtown and the western end of MD 263 south of same. In the county seat of Prince Frederick the road narrowly bypasses the downtown area while MD 765 follows the original alignment; the road also intersect the eastern terminus of MD 231 and the western terminus of MD 402 within the town. South of Prince Frederick the road gains a second name, the Louis L. Goldstein Highway.

Continuing southeastward, the road come within a mile of the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, passing the Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, and Calvert Cliffs State Park entrances near Lusby. Continuing southwest Rts. 2 and 4 finally split again at the Naval Surface Weapons Center near Solomons, with MD 2 continuing south to terminate at the island, while MD 4 continues southwest to cross the Patuxent River over the high Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.

[edit] St. Andrews Church Road

Now in St. Mary's County, MD 4 becomes a two lane road for the first time and changes names to Patuxent Beach Road for a short distance as it continues southwest to California, where it intersects MD 235. The road then changes names for the final time, to St. Andrews Church Road, and turns west as a rural road to eventually terminate at MD 5 a mile southeast of county seat Leonardtown.

[edit] Points of interest

• Cedar Hill Cemetery
• Suitland Community Park
• Suitland Parkway
• Andrews Air Force Base
• Federal Springs Park
• historic Upper Marlboro
• Patuxent River Park
• Dunkirk District Park
• Flag Ponds Nature Park
• Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
• Calvert Cliffs State Park
• Patuxent Naval Air Test Center
• St. Mary's River State Park
• Breton Bay

[edit] Junction list

County	Location	Mile	Destinations	Notes
St. Mary's	Leonardtown	0.0	Maryland Route 5 (Leonardtown Rd.) to St. Mary's City and to Mechanicsville	southern terminus of
	California	6.1	Maryland Route 235 (Three Notch Rd.) to Hollywood and to Lexington Park and to Patuxent Naval Air Test Center	Rt. 4 here leaves the Potomac River watershed. It is in the Patuxent River watershed from here until Mile 60 at the Capital Beltway for all but four miles.
crosses the Patuxent River (Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge)
Calvert	Solomons	10.1	Maryland Route 2 south (Solomons Island Rd.) to Solomons	joins
	concurrency begins
	Appeal		Maryland Route 765 north (HG Trueman Rd.)	former alignment of
		12.5	Maryland Route 760 south (Rousby Hall Rd.) to Drum Point
		13.6	Maryland Route 497 east (Cove Point Rd.) to Cove Point and to Cove Point Park	Rt. 4, for the next three-quarters of a mile, leaves the Patuxent River watershed and runs through the Grays Creek / Chesapeake Bay watershed.
	Lusby		Maryland Route 765 (HG Trueman Rd.) to Calvert Cliffs State Park	former alignment of
			Maryland Route 765 north (to Calvert Cliffs Parkway) - Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant	runs north of
			Maryland Route 765 south (to Flag Pond Parkway) to Flag Ponds Nature Park	runs south of
	St. Leonard		Maryland Route 765 north (St. Leonard Rd.) to Long Beach	runs north of
		23.9	Maryland Route 264 south (Broomes Island Rd.) and Maryland Route 765 south (St. Leonard Rd.) to Broomes Island	runs south of
		25.5	Maryland Route 506 south (Sixes Rd.) to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and to MD 508)
		26.2	Maryland Route 765 north (Main St.) to Prince Frederick	southern terminus of former alignment of
	Prince Frederick		Maryland Route 231 west (Hallowing Point Rd.) to Benedict and to Hallowing Point State Park	Rt. 4, in the Parkers Creek / Chesapeake Bay watershed for the previous 3 miles, reenters the Patuxent River watershed.
			Maryland Route 765 south (Main St.)-	northern terminus of former alignment of
		28.5	Maryland Route 402 east (Dares Beach Rd.) toDares Beach
		31.3	Maryland Route 263 east (Plum Point Rd.) to Plum Point (to MD 261)
	Huntingtown	33.5	Maryland Route 524 north (Old Town Rd.)	southern terminus of former alignment of
		34.2	Maryland Route 524 south (Old Town Rd.)	northern terminus of former alignment of
			Ponds Wood Rd. to MD 261	former
	Sunderland	37.0	Maryland Route 2 north / Solomons Island Rd. to Annapolis	diverges from
	concurrency ends
		37.6	Maryland Route 262 (Lower Marlboro Rd.) to Lower Marlboro	forms third side of / intersection
			W Mt. Harmony Rd. to MD 2
Calvert/Anne Arundel	Lyons Creek	45.6	Maryland Route 260 southeast (Chesapeake Beach Rd.) to Twin Shields Golf Club and to Owings at MD 2)
Anne Arundel	Bristol	47.3	Maryland Route 258 east (Bay Front Rd.) to Deale	upgrades into four-lane limited-access freeway
			Plummer Rd.	direct turnoff from southbound carriageway
	Waysons Corner		Service Rd.	right-out from northbound carriageway to Service Rd. on east side, right-out from southbound carriageway to Service Rd. on west side
		50.1	Maryland Route 408 east (Marlboro-Mt. Zion Rd.) to Lothian at MD 2)	former route of before 1964-1966
Prince George's		51.1	Maryland Route 726 / Old Marlboro Pike	westbound exit and eastbound entrance
	Upper Marlboro	52.0	US 301 / Robert Crain Highway to Waldorf and to Bowie	former route of
			Maryland Route 717 / Water St. to downtown Upper Marlboro MD 725
		52.6	Old Crain Highway to MD 202	former route of
			Ritchie-Marlboro Rd. to Federal Springs Park	left exit and entrance from eastbound carriageway
		56.9	Maryland Route 223 south / Woodyard Rd. - Mellwood to Piscatawny
			Dower House Rd. to Marlboro Pike	downgrades into four-lane at-grade expressway
		59.0	Suitland Pkwy to Allentown Rd. and Andrews Air Force Base, Presidential Parkway
			Westphalia Rd. to Old Marlboro Pike
		60.0	I-95/I-495 / Capital Beltway to Baltimore and to Richmond VA	All but 4 miles of Miles 6 to 60 are in the Patuxent River watershed. Miles 60 to 64.6 are in the Oxon Run watershed within the drainage of the Potomac River.
	Forestville		Forestville Rd. to the Suitland Parkway and to Marlboro Pike	Marlboro Pike does not have an interchange with
	Suitland	62.5	Maryland Route 458 / Silver Hill Rd. to District Heights and to Suitland
			Brooks Dr. to Marlboro Pike	Marlboro Pike is former alignment of and
			Shadyside Ave. south to Suitland Rd., Alton St. northwest to Southern Ave.
Prince George's, MD / DC		64.6	Southern Ave. to Fort Dupont Park and to Cedar Hill Cemetery	Southern Ave. forms the D.C. line
ends at Washington D.C. line; Pennsylvania Ave. continues into D.C.

[edit] History

MD 4 is one of the original state highways, originally being designated as Marlboro Pike through Upper Marlboro. It then continued east, following the alignment of MD 408, to its original eastern terminus at Rt. 2 in Lothian. Between 1962 and 1972, MD 4 was diverted onto Southern Maryland Blvd and concurrent with MD 2 (replacing MD 2's companion route, MD 416) for nearly the entire length of Calvert County. Before the construction of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge, MD 2-4 ended simultaneously at the southern tip of the county; after the bridge was built MD 4 was diverted across it to terminate at MD 5 south of Leonardtown.

[edit] Notes

• MD 4 is part of the National Highway System between the District line and Maryland Route 235.
• While officially designated as a north-south roadway, significant portions are aligned in an east-west direction. This is reflected in some signing, particularly along the Capital Beltway where signs indicate "East/South" and "West/North".
• The gradients on the 4-lane divided portion of MD 4 in Calvert County are quite steep in places; very little grading appears to have been done to the roadbed before paving.

[edit] See also

• List of Maryland state highways

[edit] External links

• MD 4 @ MDRoads.com