Maryland Route 632 (MD 632) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Downsville Pike, the state highway runs 6.71 miles (10.80 km) from MD 63 in Downsville north to Maryland Avenue in Hagerstown. MD 632 was constructed along the path of a former turnpike in the late 1930s. The state highway's interchange with Interstate 70 (I-70) opened in 1999.

Maryland Route 632 marker

Maryland Route 632

Downsville Pike
Map
Maryland Route 632 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length6.71 mi[1] (10.80 km)
Existed1938–present
Major junctions
South end MD 63 in Downsville
Major intersections
North endMaryland Avenue in Hagerstown
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountiesWashington
Highway system
MD 631 MD 636

Route description edit

 
View north along MD 632 at MD 68 near St. James

MD 632 begins at an intersection with MD 63 (Spielman Road) in Downsville. The state highway northeast as a two-lane undivided road through farmland, in the midst of which the highway intersects MD 68 (Lappans Road). MD 632 begins to pass residential subdivisions and industrial properties ahead of its interchange with I-70 (Eisenhower Memorial Highway), through which the state highway is a four-lane divided highway. The intersection with the ramps to and from westbound I-70 is shared with Halfway Boulevard, which heads northwest toward U.S. Route 11 and I-81. A park and ride lot is located west of the road at the interchange just south of Halfway Boulevard and the I-70 westbound ramps. MD 632 reduces to two lanes again and passes through the southeastern part of Halfway before crossing over Norfolk Southern Railway's Hagerstown District line. The state highway turns north to intersect Oak Ridge Drive, enters the city of Hagerstown, and passes through a forested area before reaching its northern terminus at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Downsville Pike between South Hagerstown High School to the east and a pair of shopping centers to the west. The roadway continues north as Maryland Avenue toward downtown Hagerstown, while Downsville Pike heads northeast toward Potomac Street just north of MD 65's northern terminus.[1][2]

History edit

 
View north along MD 632 from I-70 in Halfway

The predecessor highway of MD 632 was the Downsville and Hagerstown Turnpike from Downsville to the Hagerstown and Sharpsburg Turnpike (now MD 65) in Hagerstown.[3] MD 632 was designated and constructed as a modern highway between 1938 and 1940.[4][5] The state highway was reconstructed around 1956.[6] The portion of MD 632 around the I-70 overpass was expanded to a four-lane divided highway in 1968 despite no interchange being constructed at that time.[7] The state highway was relocated in Halfway as part of the grade separation of the highway and the Norfolk Southern Railway line in 1978.[8][9] MD 632's interchange with I-70 was constructed starting in February 1998 and was completed in September 1999.[10][11][12]

Junction list edit

The entire route is in Washington County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Downsville0.000.00  MD 63 (Spielman Road) – Williamsport, SpielmanSouthern terminus
St. James2.243.60  MD 68 (Lappans Road) – Williamsport, Boonsboro
Halfway4.927.92  I-70 (Eisenhower Memorial Highway) – Hancock, FrederickExit 28 (I-70)
Hagerstown6.7110.80Maryland Avenue north / Downsville Pike northNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also edit

References edit

KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ a b c Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  2. ^ Google (2010-11-23). "Maryland Route 632" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  3. ^ Clark, William Bullock (1899). Report on the Highways of Maryland. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey. p. 251. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  4. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1938). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  5. ^ Whitman, Ezra B.; Webb, P. Watson; Thomas, W. Frank (March 15, 1941). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1939–1940 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 120. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  6. ^ Bonnell, Robert O.; Bennett, Edgar T.; McMullen, John J. (November 2, 1956). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1955–1956 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 193. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  7. ^ Maryland State Roads Commission (1968). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  8. ^ Maryland State Highway Administration (1978). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration.
  9. ^ "NBI Structure Number: 100000210145010". National Bridge Inventory. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  10. ^ Dennis, Steven T. (1997-05-16). "Work on Downsville Pike interchange to begin in February". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, MD: The Herald-Mail Company. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  11. ^ Butki, Scott (1999-09-23). "I-70 interchange set to open Wednesday". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, MD: The Herald-Mail Company. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  12. ^ Maryland State Highway Administration (1999). Maryland: Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1999–2000 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration.