Maryland Route 80
Encyclopedia
Maryland Route 80 is a state highway
in the southern part of Frederick County
in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. Towards its eastern terminus at MD 27
, the highway briefly enters Montgomery County
as well.
, Maryland Route 80 begins as a two-lane undivided highway with hard shoulders, as a road featuring long straights and gentle curves, carrying Fingerboard Road. Route 80 continues in this fashion until crossing the Monocacy River, at which point it loses its shoulders and becomes markedly more curvy as it passes through Hope Hill. Approaching Urbana
, MD 80 begins to parallel Interstate 270
, turning at Thurston Road to feature a folded cloverleaf interchange with the Interstate.
After this, MD 80 spreads to become a dual-carriageway route and features a roundabout with MD 355
. Both I-270 and MD 355 serve as major highways for the Frederick and Montgomery County area. Massive development in the Urbana region, first started in 1999, stressed the existing infrastructure of the area. To accommodate this, a traffic circle
was added to the highway in between the junctions with Interstate 270 and MD 355. To the east of the current intersection with MD 355, state highway workers have started construction on a new intersection planned with MD 355 along a realignment of said route onto an extension of Worthington Boulevard. This new intersection will replace the old one (the existing section of MD 355 is to be signed as Maryland Route 355 Business) following a rerouting of MD 355 through Urbana. To accommodate the heavier traffic flow from the rapidly expanding Urbana area, MD 80 has been widened through the town, and several traffic lights have been installed.
After leaving Urbana, however, MD 80 returns to being a rural two-lane undivided highway for the remainder of its path, quickly returning to the open countryside for a long stretch. The route features only two more traffic lights (at MD 75
and Lynn Burke Road). Once entering Fountain Mills, residential development begins to face the road, and follows it all the way down to Hanford Estates before it enters Montgomery County
. From there, the road's name changes to Kemptown Road, and it continues through more homes before ending at MD 27
.
For years, at the intersection with Lynn Burke Road, Route 80 simply had a flashing yellow light while Lynn Burke Road had a flashing red light. This intersection was often seen as one of the most dangerous ones in the county due to a hill providing limited visibility of the traffic heading westbound on Route 80. In the 1990s, a traffic light was installed and has served to greatly reduce the number of accidents at the intersection.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the southern part of Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Towards its eastern terminus at MD 27
Maryland Route 27
Maryland Route 27 is a state highway in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland.-Route description:MD 27, also known as Ridge Road and Manchester Road , begins in Germantown at MD 355...
, the highway briefly enters Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
as well.
Counties traversed
- Frederick CountyFrederick County, MarylandFrederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
- Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, MarylandMontgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
Route description
From its western terminus at MD 85Maryland Route 85
Maryland Route 85 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Buckeystown Pike, the state highway runs from MD 28 in Tuscarora north to the Frederick city limit north of Interstate 70 , where the highway continues north as East Street. MD 85 connects Tuscarora and Buckeystown in...
, Maryland Route 80 begins as a two-lane undivided highway with hard shoulders, as a road featuring long straights and gentle curves, carrying Fingerboard Road. Route 80 continues in this fashion until crossing the Monocacy River, at which point it loses its shoulders and becomes markedly more curvy as it passes through Hope Hill. Approaching Urbana
Urbana, Maryland
Urbana is an unincorporated community located in southern Frederick County, Maryland. It lies at the I-270/MD 80 interchange, about southeast of Frederick.-History:The Urbana area was first settled in 1730....
, MD 80 begins to parallel Interstate 270
Interstate 270 (Maryland)
Interstate 270 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Maryland that travels between Interstate 495 just north of Bethesda, Montgomery County and Interstate 70 in the city of Frederick in Frederick County. It consists of the mainline as well as a spur that provides access to and...
, turning at Thurston Road to feature a folded cloverleaf interchange with the Interstate.
After this, MD 80 spreads to become a dual-carriageway route and features a roundabout with MD 355
Maryland Route 355
Maryland Route 355 is a north–south road in western central Maryland in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Washington, D.C. border in Friendship Heights, Montgomery County, where it continues south as Wisconsin Avenue into Washington. The northern terminus is...
. Both I-270 and MD 355 serve as major highways for the Frederick and Montgomery County area. Massive development in the Urbana region, first started in 1999, stressed the existing infrastructure of the area. To accommodate this, a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
was added to the highway in between the junctions with Interstate 270 and MD 355. To the east of the current intersection with MD 355, state highway workers have started construction on a new intersection planned with MD 355 along a realignment of said route onto an extension of Worthington Boulevard. This new intersection will replace the old one (the existing section of MD 355 is to be signed as Maryland Route 355 Business) following a rerouting of MD 355 through Urbana. To accommodate the heavier traffic flow from the rapidly expanding Urbana area, MD 80 has been widened through the town, and several traffic lights have been installed.
After leaving Urbana, however, MD 80 returns to being a rural two-lane undivided highway for the remainder of its path, quickly returning to the open countryside for a long stretch. The route features only two more traffic lights (at MD 75
Maryland Route 75
Maryland Route 75 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Green Valley Road, the state highway runs from MD 355 near Hyattstown north to MD 31 in New Windsor...
and Lynn Burke Road). Once entering Fountain Mills, residential development begins to face the road, and follows it all the way down to Hanford Estates before it enters Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. From there, the road's name changes to Kemptown Road, and it continues through more homes before ending at MD 27
Maryland Route 27
Maryland Route 27 is a state highway in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland.-Route description:MD 27, also known as Ridge Road and Manchester Road , begins in Germantown at MD 355...
.
History
The Fingerboard Road designation of Route 80 has a colorful history to it. Today, there are multiple theories that attempt to explain the name. One explanation deals with an old sign that used to exist on the side of the road with a finger pointing to a local area. Other explanations say that it was named for a farmer who lost his finger picking up milk at a milk stand.For years, at the intersection with Lynn Burke Road, Route 80 simply had a flashing yellow light while Lynn Burke Road had a flashing red light. This intersection was often seen as one of the most dangerous ones in the county due to a hill providing limited visibility of the traffic heading westbound on Route 80. In the 1990s, a traffic light was installed and has served to greatly reduce the number of accidents at the intersection.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Road | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Frederick County, Maryland Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385.... |
Buckeystown Buckeystown, Maryland Buckeystown is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Buckeystown Historic District and Buckingham House and Industrial School Complex were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Carrollton Manor was listed in 1997.Current member of Congress... |
0.00 | Western terminus | |
| Urbana Urbana, Maryland Urbana is an unincorporated community located in southern Frederick County, Maryland. It lies at the I-270/MD 80 interchange, about southeast of Frederick.-History:The Urbana area was first settled in 1730.... |
4.98 | Interchange | ||
| 5.75 | East end of MD 355 concurrency | |||
| Fountain Mills | 10.16 | West end of MD 75 concurrency | ||
| 10.29 | East end of MD 75 concurrency | |||
| Montgomery Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate... |
Claggettsville | 14.79 | Eastern terminus |