Maryland Route 242

      Maryland Route 242 marker

      Maryland Route 242
      Colton Point Road
      Route information
      Maintained by MDSHA
      Length: 12.80 mi[1] (20.60 km)
      Major junctions
      South end: Beach Road / Point Breeze Road in Coltons Point
       

      MD 470 at Avenue
      MD 239 near Bushwood
      MD 238 near Bushwood

      MD 234 at Clements
      North end: MD 5 at Morganza
      Location
      Counties: St. Mary's
      Highway system
      MD 241 MD 243

      Maryland Route 242 (MD 242) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Colton Point Road, the state highway runs 12.80 miles (20.60 km) from Coltons Point north to MD 5 in Morganza. MD 242 connects the communities of Morganza, Clements, Bushwood, Avenue, and Coltons Point in western St. Mary's County. The state highway also leads to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing. MD 242 was constructed in the early 1920s.

      Route description

      MD 242 begins at the intersection of Beach Road and Point Breeze Road in a residential neighborhood at Coltons Point on the shore of the Potomac River. Point Breeze Road heads east toward the St. Clements Island–Potomac River Museum, which is the embarkation point for seasonal boat tours to St. Clement's Island State Park, the site of Maryland's First Landing that includes the Blakistone Island Light. MD 242 heads northwest as a two-lane road through a mix of farmland and forest and scattered residence along the parallel St. Patrick's Creek. The state highway veers north through the community of Avenue, where the highway intersects the southern end of MD 470 (Oakley Road) and the western end of Abell Road. MD 242 continues northwest through a forested area and turns north again at MD 239 (Bushwood Wharf Road) near the community of Bushwood. The state highway veers northeast and intersects MD 238 (Maddox Road) in the hamlet of Milestown before crossing Tomakokin Creek. MD 242 meets the northern end of MD 470 (Oakley Road) just south of the hamlet of Dynard. The state highway crosses Dynard Run and parallels St. Clements Creek before arriving in the community of Clements, where the highway intersects MD 234 (Budds Creek Road), which connects Leonardtown to the east with U.S. Route 301 and the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge to the west. MD 242 leaves Clements heading north then curves to the east and crosses St. Clements Creek. The state highway heads northeast through farmland, crossing Locust Run before passing Chopticon High School. MD 242 reaches its northern terminus at MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) in the community of Morganza. The highway continues north as county-maintained Morganza–Turner Road.[1][2]

      ↑Jump back a section

      History

      MD 242 was constructed as a gravel road from Morganza to Avenue by 1921 and completed to Coltons Point in 1923.[3][4] The state highway was reconstructed with curve modifications and a bituminous-stabilized gravel surface in the 1950s, beginning with the Morganza–Clements section in 1949 and 1950.[5] MD 242 was rebuilt from Clements to Bushwood by 1959.[6]

      ↑Jump back a section

      Junction list

      The entire route is in St. Mary's County.

      Location Mile[1] km Destinations Notes
      Coltons Point 0.00 0.00 Beach Road west / Point Breeze Road east
      Avenue 3.01 4.84 MD 470 north (Oakley Road) – Oakley
      Bushwood 4.37 7.03 MD 239 west (Bushwood Wharf Road)
      5.34 8.59 MD 238 north (Maddox Road) – Maddox, Chaptico
      Dynard 6.91 11.12 MD 470 south (Oakley Road) – Oakley
      Clements 8.83 14.21 MD 234 (Budds Creek Road) to US 301 – Leonardtown, Potomac River Bridge
      Morganza 12.80 20.60 MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) / Morganza–Turner Road north – Leonardtown, Waldorf
      1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
      ↑Jump back a section

      References

      1. ^ a b c Highway Information Services Division (2011). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
      2. ^ Google Inc. Google Maps – Maryland Route 242 (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=MD-242%2FColton+Point+Rd&daddr=MD-242%2FColton+Point+Rd&hl=en&geocode=FV4_RwIdBths-w%3BFbCQSQIdWLdt-w&mra=ls&sll=38.224241,-76.752484&sspn=0.007737,0.01929&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
      3. ^ Maryland Geological Survey. Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map) (1921 ed.).
      4. ^ Maryland Geological Survey. Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map) (1923 ed.).
      5. ^ Reindollar, Robert M.; George, Joseph M.; McCain, Russell H. (December 20, 1950). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1949–1950 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. pp. 154, 157. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
      6. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission. Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map) (1959 ed.).
      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 29 April 2013, at 21:17