Site Navigation Delaware District of Columbia Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia     Westbound - Baltimore to Frederick (Exits 94 to 55) Interstate 70 West Interstate 70 begins as the main exit point from the Park and Ride located at the city limits of Baltimore and the western edge of Gwynns Falls Park. The first exit along westbound Interstate 70 is Exit 94B, Security Boulevard northwest to Maryland 122. Security Boulevard heads northwest to the Social Security Administration complex, then west past the Interstate 695 beltway to the Security Square Mall and North Rolling Road. The next exit is Exit 94A, Cooks Lane southeast to U.S. 40 and the city of Baltimore. Photo taken 06/01/04. This sign, located on the westbound lanes as Interstate 70 leaves the Park and Ride, reminds motorists to wear their seat belts. The parking area to the left (behind the jersey barrier) is part of the Park and Ride. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70 at Exit 94, Cooks Lane. Use Cooks Lane to reach U.S. 40/Edmondson Avenue eastbound into downtown Baltimore. Photo taken 06/01/04. For being so close to a major urban center, Interstate 70 feels remarkably rural as it passes between Security Boulevard and Interstate 695. Part of this is due to the trees, but it is also due to a noticeable lack of traffic. Photo taken 06/01/04. After passing the Social Security Administration Building on the right (north) of the freeway, Interstate 70 approaches an interchange with Interstate 695, the Baltimore Beltway. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit (Exits 91A-B) is for Interstate 695, the Baltimore Beltway. The beltway heads north (inner loop) to Towson and south (outer loop) to Glen Burnie. Due to its importance, the interchange warrants an overhead sign. Photo taken 06/01/04. This view of the guide signs and sign bridge was afforded from the shoulder of westbound Interstate 70 as it approaches Interstate 695. The overheads on this sign bridge are still in button copy, which is increasingly difficult to find in Maryland. Imprints in the sign are visible for three arrows for the westbound lanes; these arrows were removed because Interstate 70 now only carries a total of two lanes (one in each direction) over the Interstate 695 stack interchange. Photo taken 06/17/00. The left lanes consolidate into one lane for through traffic on westbound Interstate 70, while the two right lanes exit onto Interstate 695. The inner loop heads north toward Interstate 795 to Finksburg, Towson, and Interstate 83 to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the outer loop heads southeast toward Interstate 95 to Washington, the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and Interstate 97 to Annapolis. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70 at the gore point for the Interstate 695/Baltimore Beltway interchange. A symmetrical stack interchange with high speed connectors for all directions of travel, this interchange was designed to carry significantly more traffic on the connector ramps from westbound Interstate 70 and to eastbound Interstate 695. Signage on eastbound Interstate 70 and on the beltway dissuade drivers from using Interstate 70 east of Interstate 695, and the local roads that emanate from the freeway near the Park and Ride (Security Boulevard and Cooks Lane) are not major routes into downtown Baltimore. As a result, this interchange is underwhelmed with traffic ... except for the connections to westbound Interstate 70 and from eastbound Interstate 70 onto the beltway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Now on the top deck of the Interstate 70 bridge over Interstate 695, the lanes were striped to allow for only one through lane in each direction. This was done to accommodate the large traffic flow incoming from both the inner and outer loop of the Interstate 695 beltway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Interstate 70 continues west with one lane as it crosses over Interstate 695 and prepares to merge with traffic from the beltway. What was once a relatively quiet ride between the Park and Ride and Interstate 695 changes dramatically upon reaching the merge (visible in the distance ahead). Almost all of the traffic coming onto Interstate 70 is from the ramp from Interstate 695, not the mainline. Photo taken 06/01/04. While Interstate 70 continues three miles east of Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway) to the Baltimore city line, the first westbound reassurance shield resides just west of Exit 91. Many many more are to come on the drive west to Cove Fort, Utah. Photo taken 08/07/04. One of our favorite signs! - a mileage signing touting the Interstate 70 cross country destinations was posted in Baltimore County, Maryland between June and August of 2004. The sign includes the mileage to the major cities of Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colorado; and the western terminus at Cove Fort, Utah. Photo taken 08/07/04. The next exit along westbound after the Interstate 695 interchange is Exit 87A-B, Junction U.S. 29 north to Maryland 99/Old Frederick Road and south to Columbia and Washington, D.C. A non-reflective button copy sign composes the two-mile sign for U.S. 29 on Interstate 70 westbound at the Patapsco River crossing into Howard County. Photo taken 08/07/04. One-mile sign bridge for the Exits 87A/B directional cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 29 (Columbia Pike) on Interstate 70 westbound. The northern terminus of U.S. 29 resides nearby at Mt. Hebron. The southern terminus occurs in Pensacola, Florida at junction U.S. 90 & 98. Photo taken 08/07/04. U.S. 29 reaches its northern terminus only a half-mile north of here, at the point where it meets Old Frederick Road (Maryland 99). From here south through Columbia, past Maryland 100 and Maryland 32, U.S. 29 is a freeway, and it features exit numbers that are mileage based on the distance from the Maryland-District of Columbia state line. South of the District of Columbia, U.S. 29 is a major route into the Deep South, serving the cities of Charlottesville, Charlotte, Greenville, Atlanta, Auburn, and ultimately Pensacola. Rogers Avenue crosses over Interstate 70 ahead of the Exit 87 interchange to become Maryland 99 (Old Frederick Road) at Mt. Hebron (junction U.S. 29). Photo taken 08/07/04. While the center lanes of Interstate 70 continue west toward Frederick, the right lane exits onto northbound U.S. 29 to Maryland 99/Old Frederick Road (historic U.S. 40) and the two left lanes exit south onto the U.S. 29 freeway. U.S. 29 travels five miles south to the planned community of Columbia. Columbia was built from scratch using an urban planning concept based upon a pedestrian city. While it was considered innovative at its time during the 1970s, the surrounding areas developed in a more traditional suburban sprawl type pattern. Photo taken 08/07/04. After U.S. 29 interchange, Interstate 70 leaves much of the urban feel of the highway behind and approaches Exit 83, Marriottsville Road. Use Marriottsville Road south to reach Maryland 144, which follows the old alignment of U.S. 40 west to Frederick. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70 at Exit 83, Marriottsville Road. After Exit 83, Interstate 70's long-term traveling companion, U.S. 40, meets up with Interstate 70 at Exit 82. Exit 82 is a partial interchange, and there are no exits to U.S. 40 from westbound Interstate 70. Once U.S. 40 merges onto westbound Interstate 70, the freeway again features six lanes. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit along westbound Interstate 70 and now cosigned U.S. 40 is Maryland 32. Deceptively rural through here, Maryland 32 south becomes a freeway at Clarksville, then angles southeast past Columbia, Annapolis Junction, and Odenton to meet Interstate 97 at Millersville. As yet, the Maryland 32 freeway has not yet been extended to Interstate 70. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 80, Junction Maryland 32 southeast to Clarksville and north to Sykesville. Maryland 32 continues north to Westminster, where it meets Maryland 97 and Maryland 140. Use Maryland 32 north to reach the western terminus of Maryland 99/Old Frederick Road. Photo taken 08/07/04. A weigh/inspection station is located midway between Exits 80 and 78 along westbound. A state name shield is located just ahead after the merge ramp from Maryland 32 (see next two photos). Photo taken 06/01/04. Although most state-named Interstate shields in Maryland have slowly disappeared over the years, a few still remain. On Interstate 70 in both directions between Interstate 695 and Maryland 97, several such shields are still in place along the mainline. Photo taken 08/07/04. Close-up of the Interstate 70 Maryland and U.S. 40 shield combination after the Maryland 32 interchange. Photo taken 08/07/04. The next exit is Exit 76, Junction Maryland 97. Maryland 97 heads north to Westminster, where it meets Maryland 140, then continues north along the former path of U.S. 140 en route to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Looking south, Maryland 97 follows a straight path toward Montgomery County and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Photo taken 08/07/04. Nearing the Exit 76 diamond interchange with Maryland 97 (Hoods Mill Road) at Cooksville. Maryland 97 becomes Pennsylvania 97 on the northward drive to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Southward the state highway becomes Georgie Avenue at the Montgomery County line en route to Brookeville and Olney. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 76, Junction Maryland 97 north to Westminster and south to Olney. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit along westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 is Exit 73, Junction Maryland 94, one mile. Maryland 94 heads south to Lisbon and north toward Woodbine. The state highway travels just 6.3 miles between its endpoints. Photo taken 06/01/04. Drawing near the Exit 73 diamond interchange with Maryland 94 (Woodbine Road). Woodbine Road encounters a roundabout both north and south of Interstate 70. Maryland 144 (Frederick Road) intersects Maryland 94 at Lisbon and Old Frederick Road meets Woodbine Road between Interstate 70 & U.S. 40 and the Carroll County line. Photo taken 08/07/04. Interstate 70 & U.S. 40 westbound at Exit 73 (Maryland 94). Maryland 94 sees its northern terminus at the Old Frederick Road roundabout near Woodbine. Southward the state highway follows Woodbine Road to Florence and Annapolis Rock. Maryland 94 ends at the Patuxent River crossing and Montgomery County line within Patuxent River State Park. Photo taken 08/07/04. The second in the series of Interstate 70 Maryland & U.S. 40 westbound reassurance shields. U.S. 40 merges onto Interstate 70 via a partial "Y" interchange at Exit 80. The federal highway remains overlapped with Interstate 70 through to Exit 53 at Frederick. Photo taken 08/07/04. Typical mileage sign posted along a Maryland Interstate highway. Posted here are distances for Maryland 27 (Exit 68) and the city of Frederick. Photo taken 08/07/04. Maryland 27, the next exit along westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40, heads north into the city of Mount Airy and south into Montgomery County to an interchange with Interstate 270 Exit 16. Photo taken 06/01/04. Exit 68 is the main exit into Mount Airy, which is situated just north of the freeway along Maryland 27. Maryland 27 is a divided highway as it passes through Mount Airy, and it continues northeast to Westminster and Manchester. To reach the western terminus of the second incarnation of Maryland 144, use Maryland 27 south. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 68, Junction Maryland 27 north to Mount Airy and south to Damascus. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit along westbound is Exit 62, Junction Maryland 75, one mile. Photo taken 06/01/04. Maryland 75 heads south to Monrovia, Green Valley, and Hyattstown and north to Libertytown and Union Bridge. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 62, Junction Maryland 75 north to Libertytown and south to Hyattstown. Photo taken 06/01/04. As Interstate 70 approaches the outer limits of the Frederick metropolitan area, Interstate 70/U.S. 40 approaches Exit 59, Junction Maryland 144. As noted earlier, Maryland 144 has been paralleling the Interstate 70 and U.S. 40 freeway, following the sections of the old alignment of U.S. 40 that are still state maintained. This interchange provides access to the third instance of Maryland 144 along westbound. This particular stretch includes a divided highway/expressway segment west of Exit 59. Photo taken 08/07/04. Several instances of Maryland 144 exist along all old stretches of U.S. 40 that are still maintained by the state but have not been designated as an alternate or scenic route of U.S. 40. From east to west, the first section of Maryland 144 is Frederick Road in Baltimore City/County. A second section of Maryland 144 exists along Frederick Road between U.S. 40 in Pine Orchard and Maryland 27 near Mount Airy; this exit leads to the third instance of Maryland 144, which heads east along the Old National Pike into the city of Frederick. Photo taken 08/07/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 59, Junction Maryland 144/Old National Pike. Don't worry, U.S. 40 will encounter Maryland 144 again in at least three other segments: Washington Street in Hagerstown, Old U.S. 40 in Hancock, and a section between Interstate 68 Exits 62 and 47 east of Cumberland. Photo taken 08/07/04. Now back in the land of neutered shields, few state-name Interstate 70 shields remain for the remainder of the route west toward Pennsylvania. Photo taken 08/07/04. This is the first sign along westbound advising motorists heading west to consider using Interstate 68 as an alternate to the tolled Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 70. The only issue is that Interstate 68 currently ends at Interstate 79, thus making a return back to Interstate 70 a drive on some rural, non-freeway highways. If West Virginia is successful in constructing an extension of Interstate 68 northwest to rejoin Interstate 70 near Wheeling, then Interstate 68 will become even more appealing as an alternative to avoid the turnpike. Photo taken 06/01/04. Sure enough, the next exit along westbound Interstate 70 is Exit 56, Maryland 144/Patrick Street. If this were out west, Maryland 144 would be signed as an Interstate business loop into the city. The following exits are Exit 55, South Street and Exit 54, Junction Maryland 355/Market Street. Photo taken 08/07/04. Unlike Exit 59, the signage for Exit 56 features the control city of Frederick for Exit 56 onto Maryland 144/Patrick Street. Photo taken 08/07/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 at Exit 56, Junction Maryland 144 west into Frederick. U.S. 40 remains on the Interstate 70 freeway for a little while longer. The next exit is Exit 55, South Street. After the Maryland 144 exit, the freeway loses its right lane, thus ending a six-lane configuration that existed from the U.S. 40 merge at Exit 82 west to Exit 56. This lane consolidation is mostly due to the coming merging of several freeways in downtown Frederick. Photo taken 06/01/04. Interstate 70/U.S. 40 was under construction in the vicinity of Frederick as noted by this sign at the time this picture was taken. Photo taken 06/01/04. Westbound Interstate 70/U.S. 40 approaching Exit 55, South Street, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 06/01/04. Look out for that South Street exit (Exit 56), as it is a very sharp turn north! Photo taken 08/07/04. Page Updated January 10, 2005.