LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
built 633 days ago
The Baltimore-Washington Parkway is the ceremonial entrance route into the nation's capital from the north. In the 1920s the federal government's parkway system for Washington, D.C., based on Pierre Charles L'Enfant's layout of the Capital, included plans for this byway. Although the construction did not begin until 1942, at the end of the American parkway movement, this byway exemplifies one of the last such roads constructed and the only fully developed parkway of its kind in Maryland. Its character continues today. This byway was recently dedicated to the late Senator Gladys Noon Spellman.
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The Baltimore-Washington Parkway has been under reconstruction since the late 1970's. FHWA has been working closely with the NPS, which owns and manages the parkway, and the Maryland Department of Transportation to advance construction of the parkway. The only remaining portion requiring reconstruction is the Route 197 Interchange, which is scheduled to begin in early 1999. This Route 197 Interchange project will complete the 20-year Baltimore-Washington Parkway construction.
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The Baltimore-Washington Parkway achieves state and local significance in the areas of transportation and landscape architecture. It is associated with urban development of the National Capital as a Federal center, it exemplifies, the last period of construction for this type of road, and is the only fully developed parkway of its kind in Maryland. It achieves extraordinary significance as a contributing element to the National Capital Park and Parkway system developed during the first half of the 20th century, although the parkway itself was constructed largely between 1950-1954, and is less than 50 years old. Although conceived and promoted from the 1920s, construction of the Baltimore-Washington parkway was not initiated until 1942. Its enabling legislation justifies it: as a major scenic artery within the park and parkway system of the nation's capital; as a formal entrance to the city of Washington, D.C.; as a defense/military route among suburban Federal installations and the city; and as a contributing element to the commercial and residential development of the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The parkway maintains original integrity of setting, design, and associations characteristic of the earliest parkways designed for pleasure motoring--the preservation of natural topography and vegetation for scenic purposes coupled with "high-speed" elements of modern freeway design.
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The next interchange along Maryland 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway) northbound is the directional-cloverleaf with Interstate 195. The first sign posted directs motorists onto Interstate 195 westbound for the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Ramps depart Interstate 195 near the western terminus for the college campus at Arbutus. Photo taken 10/13/04.
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The Baltimore-Washington Parkway was opened on October 1954. An average of 21,000 vehicles traveled it the first week, 6,000 more than expected. This ribbon of road maintains the integrity of the area and preserves the natural topography by following the landscape architecture. There is limited access, gentle curves, and a park-like setting inviting delightsome driving. The byway is thickly wooded with a variety of trees, including, oak, tulip, ash, maple, sweet gum, sycamore, and pine.
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A diamond interchange joins W. Nursery Road with Maryland 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway) midway between the junctions with Interstate 695 and 195. Nursery Road loops west from Maryland 168 to Patapsco Valley State Park southward to Andover Road and Shipley. Photo taken 08/20/04.
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Baltimore-Washington Parkway