Maryland...
 

US 15:
 

Summary:

Detailed Description:
US 15 is the highway on which you can travel from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Northern Virginia, crossing the Maryland panhandle, in only 45 minutes. In Pennsylvania, US 15 is an expressway for most of the distance between Harrisburg and Gettysburg. US 15 then turns into a freeway north of Gettysburg. As it enters the state of Maryland from Gettysburg, the US 15 freeway downgrades to a four lane expressway and heads toward Frederick. The expressway has no driveways, several interchanges and some at-grades. Most of the at-grade intersections can be converted to freeway interchanges since there is plenty of potential right of way space nearby. In the city of Frederick, US 15 is a very old freeway. Leaving Frederick and heading towards the Point of the Rocks, it runs along a freeway while multiplexed with US 340 before it veers off on a ramp as a super 2 expressway. This undivided 2-lane expressway has no driveways or traffic lights but does have at-grade intersections. Right of way along the highway has possible provisons for dualization and freeway status. US 15 in Northern Virginia is a contrast to the high standards of the route through Pennsylvania and Maryland. As it enters Loudon County, Virginia, it is a dangerous two lane highway with a permanent 45 mph speed limit, little to no shoulders, and many driveways. This status continues all the way to Leesburg, passing through several small towns on the way.

History:
The freeway in Frederick was built during the 1950’s. The super-2 portion was completed by 1970.

Current and Future Improvements:
There have recently been proposals to upgrade the super-2 portion of US 15 to full freeway standards as part of a western bypass for the Washington area. This would be connected to a new freeway on the Virginia side. In order to help stop urban sprawl, the freeway would have minimal interchanges. Development would only occur in certain zones near interchanges, thus helping to preserve the farmland of Northern Virginia that is increasingly threatened by uncontrolled growth.

Junction Log:

Related Links:

• US 15 at MDRoads.

• Aerial pictures of interchanges along US 15.

Sources:
Lou Corsaro wrote the detailed description and junction log, revised by Eric Smith. Tim Reichard, Brian Polidoro, Mike Pruett also contributed to the US 15 page.

Last Updated: 6/14/04

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