| Non-descript overheads partition traffic on the Capital Beltway inner loop for the Interstate 270 Spur westbound departure via Exit 38. Maryland 190 (River Road) passes over Interstate 495 here otherwise. Photo taken 09/24/04.
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| Continuing northward from Maryland 190 toward the Interstate 270 Spur split from Interstate 495 north. Interstate 270 Spur is vastly signed as Interstate 270 or TO Interstate 270 for its two-mile alignment between the Capital Beltway and the Interstate 270 mainline. Interstate 270 Spur existed originally as Interstate 270 and before that briefly as Interstate 470. Interstate 270 overall was Interstate 70S until AASHTO mandated that suffixed route numbers be renumbered. Photo taken 09/24/04.
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Six lanes of Interstate 495 north / inner split into three for Interstate 270 Spur west and three for the Capital Beltway east. Interstate 270 is known as the High Technology Corridor as it links Washington with the tech centers of Gaithersburg and Rockville to the northwest. The freeway is heavily traveled between Interstate 495 and its western terminus at Frederick (junction Interstate 70 & U.S. 40). Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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The innermost lane of Interstate 495 is an HOV-2 dedicated lane for Interstate 270 Spur northbound. Interstate 270 splits between a local and express configuration from Interstate 270 Spur northward to Exit 13. The HOV-2 lanes continue northward along the dual freeway to Gaithersburg. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Partitioning of Interstate 495 north / inner commences at the Maryland 191 (Bradley Boulevard) over crossing. Interstate 270 westbound serves the growing northwest suburbs of the Washington metropolitan area of both Montgomery and Frederick Counties. Interstate 495 meanwhile curves eastward toward Bethesda and Interstate 95 for Baltimore. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Oversized bubble shields adorn the Exit 38 sign bridge at the Interstate 270 Spur westbound beginning. Interstate 495 next meets Maryland 187 (Old Georgetown Road) at Exit 38 near Bethesda. Interstate 270 Spur interchanges with Democracy Boulevard (Exit 1) before merging with Interstate 270 west. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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The outer loop of the Capital Beltway passes over the Interstate 270 Spur westbound beginning from Exit 38. The city of Frederick lies 30 miles to the northwest. Interstate 270 otherwise enters the Rockville area within four miles. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Interstate 270 eastbound merges onto Interstate 495 east / inner at its eastern terminus near Garrett Park. Traffic from the northwest joins the Capital Beltway midway through its interchange with Maryland 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) at Exit 34. Pictured here is the left-hand ramp merge from Maryland 355 (former U.S. 240) southbound onto Interstate 495 east. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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The Capital Beltway flows through Rock Creek Park from Interstate 270 east to Forest Glen. The freeway passes over Cedar Lane 0.75 miles west of the partial-cloverleaf interchange with Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue). Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Maryland 185 continues Connecticut Avenue northward from Washington, D.C. to Chevy Chase and North Chevy Chase before interchanging with Interstate 495. The state highway continues north from Exit 33 to Kensington and Forest Glen. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Interstate 495 east / inner at the Exit 33 ramp departure to Maryland 185 (Connecticut Avenue). Connecticut Avenue intersects Maryland 410 (East-WEst Highway) 1.25 miles to the south and Maryland 191 (Bradley Lane) in two miles at Chevy Chase. Northward the state highway migrates through Kensington to its northern terminus at Aspen Hill (junction Maryland 97). Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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The curvature of Interstate 495 continues through Rock Creek Park on the approach to junction Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue). Maryland 97 is a multi-state route linking Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with Washington, D.C. at Silver Spring. The state highway is designated Georgia Avenue from the Howard County line southward to the southern terminus at U.S. 29 (Colesville Road). Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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A three-quarter cloverleaf interchange provides the junction between Interstate 495 and Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue) at Exits 31A/B. U.S. 29 overtakes Georgia Avenue 1.50 mile to the south at Silver Spring. From there Georgia Avenue carries U.S. 29 southward 0.75 miles to the District of Columbia line at Eastern Avenue. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Traffic to Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue) southbound leaves Interstate 495 east / inner via Exit 31B to Silver Spring. Use Maryland 97 south for Maryland 390 (16th Street) southbound into Washington, D.C. as well. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Exit 31A loops onto Maryland 97 (Georgia Avenue) northbound from Interstate 495 east / inner. Georgia Avenue intersects Maryland 192 (Forest Glen Avenue) just north of the Capital Beltway. From there Maryland 97 continues 1.5 miles north to junction Maryland 586 (Veirs Mill Road) at Wheaton Plaza. Georgia Avenue travels through Wheaton center to Olney and Brookeville in central Montgomery County. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Rounding the bend toward the Exit 30A/B three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 29 (Colesville Road). U.S. 29 constitutes a divided surface arterial between Silver Spring and Hammond in southern Howard County. The federal highway is heavily developed and offers a slow go for commuters between Washington and Burtonsville. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Exit 30B departs in one-quarter mile for U.S. 29 (Colesville Road) southbound to Silver Spring and Washington, D.C. Colesville Road becomes Maryland 384 at Georgia Avenue (Maryland 97) 1.5 miles to the southwest. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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U.S. 29 southbound traffic leaves Interstate 495 east for Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Washington. Use Maryland 410 (Burlington Avenue / Philadelphia Avenue) east from U.S. 29 (Georgia Avenue) for the communities of Takoma Park and Chillum northeast of the D.C. line. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Interstate 495 eastbound at the U.S. 29 (Colesville Road) northbound off-ramp (Exit 30A). U.S. 29 meets Maryland 193 (University Boulevard) nearby at Four Corners. From there the federal highway continues northeast to White Oak Burtonsville, and Scaggsville on the drive to Columbia. Much of U.S. 29 north of the Howard County line was upgraded from a surface boulevard to freeway in the 1990s. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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A short distance separates the U.S. 29 and Maryland 193 interchanges on Interstate 495 eastbound. Maryland 193 loops east from Kensington, Wheaton, and Four Corners south to the Capital Beltway at Exit 29. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Another three-quarter cloverleaf interchange serves the junction with Maryland 193 (University Boulevard) along the Capital Beltway. Maryland 193 continues southeast to Langley Park and from there back to the northeast through college Park from Exit 29. Maryland 193 again crosses paths with Interstate 495 at the Baltimore-Washington Parkway interchange (Exit 22) at Greenbelt. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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A small auxiliary sign advises Baltimore-Washington International Airport bound motorists of the connection to Interstate 95 northbound ahead (Exit 27). The airport lies at the east end of Interstate 195 near Linthicum 24 miles to the northeast. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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The next interchange along the inner loop of Interstate 495 is the Exit 28 junction with Maryland 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) at Oakview. The state highway travels north-south between the Washington, D.C. line northward to Maryland 108 north of Laytonsville. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Drawing to within 0.25 miles of the three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with Maryland 650 (Exits 28B/A). Maryland 650 straddles the Montgomery and Prince George's County line from Interstate 495 southward to Takoma Park and the District of Columbia. New Hampshire Avenue continues to U.S. 29 (Georgia Avenue) and Park Road in the Petworth section of Washington. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Use Maryland 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) southbound from Interstate 495 for Adelphi, Lewisdale, and Chillum via connections with Maryland 212 (Riggs Road). The Exit 28B sign bridge includes the one-mile panel for the Exit 28 merge with Interstate 95. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Interstate 495 east / inner crosses over Maryland 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) ahead of the Exit 28A loop ramp departure. Maryland 650 meets U.S. 29 (Columbia Pike) via an interchange at White OAk two miles to the northwest. New Hampshire Avenue continues north from there to Colesville and Browns Corner. Use Powder Mill Road east from Maryland 650 for Hillandale and Knollwood as well. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Maryland 212 (Riggs Road) travels over Interstate 495 within one half mile of the Exit 27 directional cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95. Interstate 95 southbound merges onto Interstate 495 east / inner along the eastern half of the Capital Beltway between Knollwood and Springfield, Virginia. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Two lanes leave Interstate 495 east / inner via Exit 27 for Interstate 95 northbound to Laurel and Baltimore. Interstate 95 comprises an eight-lane freeway between the Capital and Baltimore Beltways. 23 miles separate the Exit 27 interchange with the Baltimore city line via Interstate 95 north. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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New York debuts as a control city for Interstate 95 northbound on the Exit 27 off-ramp from Interstate 495 east / inner. A second ramp leaves Exit 27 for the Knollwood area Park & Ride facility and a weigh station for Interstate 95 northbound. The ramp ties into a short segment of roadway built for the in-city routing of Interstate 95 through Washington. While that project never came to fruition, a full interchange between the never built freeway and Interstates 95 & 495 did. The ramps now serve a park and ride similarly to what was done with the east end of Interstate 70 at Baltimore. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
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Another reminder lies on the Exit 27 northbound ramp to Interstate 95 northbound for the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Interstate 95 meets Interstate 195 20 miles to the north at Exit 47 near the airport. BWI is one of three metro area airports serving Washington, D.C. The others are Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. Photo taken 09/24/04. |
Page Updated December 13, 2004.
