The initial few miles of Interstate 68 westbound as it departs Interstate 70 & U.S. 522 with U.S. 40 in western Washington County. The first four miles of the freeway parallel Maryland 144 (former U.S. 40) west from Hancock to Harvey. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04. Third photo taken 08/07/04.
Maryland 144 follows various portions of original U.S. 40 between Cumberland and Baltimore in northern Maryland. The state route exists in segments of the original route that are not signed as either U.S. 40 Alternate or U.S. 40 Scenic. A changeover between Maryland 144 (Western Pike) occurs at Exit 77 of Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 where the state route becomes U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) at Harvey. Photo taken 08/07/04.
A diamond interchange joins Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 with Woodmont Road at Exit 77 just north of Maryland 144 & U.S. 40 Scenic (Western Pike). Woodmont Road spurs south from the freeway to Exline and Woodmont via Long Ridge Road. Maryland 144 enters the scene three miles west of Hancock (pop. 1,725). Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 dip south from Sandy Mile Road to Rice Road at the interchange with Woodmont Road. U.S. 40 Scenic stems west from Woodmont Road and Maryland 144 along the National Pike west to Harvey and Sideling Hill. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 ascend from Exit 77 to Sideling Hill on the five-mile drive to the Allegany County line and Exit 72. Sideling Hill represents a series of the Appalachian Mountains extending from the Potomac River northward into southern Pennsylvania. An 850-foot vertical cut carries the four-lane freeway of Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 over the mountain just south of the Pennsylvania state line. Construction of the cut commenced in 1983 and represented the last portion of the Interstate 68 freeway to be completed by 1989. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04. Third photo taken 08/07/04.
The Sideling Hill Exhibit Center exists near the Sideling Hill pass of Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 within the Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area. Visitors can learn about the construction of the Sideling Hill cut, the geology of the area, and the wildlife found within the surrounding WMA. A pedestrian bridge allows eastbound travelers access to the exhibit center. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04. Third photo taken 08/07/04.
Descending toward Allegany County along Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 westbound. Green Ridge State Forest lies below in the wide open vista. A runaway truck ramp exists along the roadway near mile marker 74. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04.
U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) kisses Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 at the Exit 72 diamond interchange at the Allegany County line. The National Pike parallels the freeway from the south between Sideling Hill and Turkey Grove Road near Piney Grove. Photo taken 08/07/04.
One half mile east of ramp departure of Exit 72 for U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) and its connections to Swain Road and High Germany Road. Swain Road stems south from the National Pike just west of Exit 72 into the Belle Grove Wildlife Management Area. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 freeway cross the county line ahead of the Exit 72 off-ramp for U.S. 40 Scenic. The National Pike comes into view to the south of the interchange on its three-mile drive west to Piney Grove. High Germany Road travels north from U.S. 40 Scenic across Interstate 68 to Harmon Road and Pennsylvania 484 in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next westbound exit serves Orleans Road and the community of Piney Grove at Exit 68. A diamond interchange joins the freeway with the north-south roadway. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Westbound at the Exit 68 off-ramp to Orleans Road. Orleans Road ventures north to junction U.S. 40 Scenic at Piney Grove nearby. The road continues three miles north from there to become Pennsylvania 26 at the state line. Southward, Orleans Road reaches Little Orleans in five miles. Use Pennsylvania 26 (Orleans Road) north for Inglesmith, Piney Creek, and Millers Corner. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 enter Green Ridge State Forest just west of Orleans Road. From there the freeway curves southwest toward the M.V. Smith Road exit at the Bill Meyer WMA. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04.
Traffic to M.V. Smith Road leaves Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 westbound at Exit 64. M.V. Smith spurs south from U.S. 40 Scenic at Green Ridge Road to Fifteen Mile Creek and Dug Hill Roads within the Green Ridge State Forest. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Fifteen Mile Creek Road arcs northwest from M.V. Smith Road to meet Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 at Exit 62. There the freeway again meets U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike). Photo taken 08/07/04.
A partial-cloverleaf interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 with U.S. 40 Scenic (National Pike) and Fifteen Mile Creek Road. Fifteen Mile Creek Road continues north with U.S. 40 Scenic east briefly before splitting to the north en route to Artemas, Pennsylvania. Big Ridge Road stems northwest from U.S. 40 Scenic near the Exit 62 interchange. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Views of the scenery along Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 westbound within Green Ridge State Forest. The National Pike parallels the freeway to the south along the stretch through the settlement of Pratt. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04.
Maryland 144 once again emerges from obscurity at the Exit 56 diamond interchange near the village of Flintstone. The state route overtakes the National Pike from Flintstone west to junction U.S. 220 (Exit 46). Photo taken 08/07/04.
0.50-mile guide sign for the Exit 56 folded-diamond interchange of Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 with Murleys Branch Road at Flintstone. Murleys Branch Road continues Black Valley Road (Pennsylvania 326) south from Hewitt, Pennsylvania five miles to the north. Murleys Branch Road continues southwest from Flintstone five miles to Rush and eight miles to Twiggtown. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 westbound at the Exit 56 off-ramp to Maryland 144 (National Pike) and Murleys Branch Road. Take U.S. 40 Scenic east from Flintstone to Town Creek Road south for Pumkin Center and the Warrior Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Photo taken 08/07/04.
One mile east of the Pleasant Valley Road diamond interchange (Exit 50) at the Maryland 144 (National Pike) over crossing near Exit 52. Pleasant Valley Road stems north from Maryland 144 into Rocky Gap State Park. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Drawing to within one mile of the Exit 50 interchange with Pleasant Valley Road at Rocky Gap State Park. Pleasant Valley Road travels through the heart of the state park en route to the Pennsylvania state line and Beans Cove. The state park is home to the Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery. Photo taken 08/07/04.
A Maryland State Trooper watches motorists along Interstate 68 & U.S. 40 westbound at the Exit 50 off-ramp to Pleasant Valley Road. Maryland 144 (National Pike) remains on a parallel alignment to the south of the freeway. First photo taken 08/07/04. Second photo taken 08/07/04.
