Site Navigation Cecil County Highways Delaware District of Columbia Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia     Maryland 279 Maryland 279 varies between two lanes from U.S. 40 to Maryland 213 to four lanes between Bridge Street and the Delaware state line. Known as Elkton Road for the most part, Maryland 279 becomes Delaware 2 as it crosses into Newark, Delaware. The Exit 109 interchange with Interstate 95 is quite busy as it serves both Elkton and Newark and also allows motorists to bypass the Delaware Turnpike toll plaza south of Newark. 1.5 miles of Maryland 279 is a controlled access highway between Maryland 316 and Belle Hill Road just south of Interstate 95. Southern Terminus Northern Terminus Road Names Mileage U.S. 40 & Maryland 7 - West of Elkton Delaware state line at Newark (Delaware 2) Elkton Road, Newark Avenue 4.95 Southern Terminus - U.S. 40 & Maryland 7 west of Elkton Guide sign for the upcoming junction of U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) eastbound with Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) and Maryland 7 (Old Philadelphia Road) at Old Elk Neck Road. The joint terminus occurs just west of the U.S. 40 crossing above the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor. Use Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) northbound to reach Interstate 95 (Exit 109). Maryland 7 Segment C ends here and Segment B begins just east of the AMTRAK line. Photo taken 03/23/04. Just west of the Jeffers Street terminus of Maryland 7 Segment B is the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor underpass of U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway). A guide sign resides in the median of the Pulaski Highway for the forthcoming intersection with the west end of Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) and east end of Maryland 7 Segment C (Old Philadelphia Road). Photo taken 07/31/04. Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) is the preferred route to Interstate 95 for all Elkton based traffic interests. The state route exists almost wholly as a four-lane facility between Maryland 213 (Bridge Street) and Interstate 95 (Exit 109). Maryland 7 parallels U.S. 40 along Old Philadelphia Road into the heart of North East to the left. Photo taken 07/31/04. Maryland 279 southbound concludes across from the beginning of Maryland 7 Segment C (Old Philadelphia Road). U.S. 40 travels eastward toward downtown Elkton to the left and to North East and Perryville to the west. It is unclear why an Interstate 95 sign is posted here as Elkton Road interchanged with the freeway 3.5 miles to the northeast. Photo taken 08/18/05. Northern Terminus - Delaware state line (Delaware 2) A rough pavement change marks the Delaware and Maryland state line on Elkton Road eastbound. Maryland 279 ends and Delaware 2 begins. The four-lane arterial continues one mile northeast in Newark to junction Delaware 2 Business, 4, and 896 at Christina Parkway. Photo taken 03/28/04. Maryland 279 2003 Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) 12,575 - U.S. 40 & Maryland 7 to Maryland 545 9,375 - Maryland 545 to Maryland 213 (Bridge Street) 14,675 - Newark Avenue between Maryland 213 and Maryland 268 (North Street) 14,075 - Maryland 316 to Interstate 95 20,875 - Interstate 95 (Exit 109) to Maryland 277 (Fletchwood Road) Source: 2003 Highway Location Reference file for Cecil County (MDSHA) Maryland 279 Guide Maryland 279 East Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) eastbound at the northern terminus of Maryland 268 (North Street). The north-south route links Elkton Road with downtown Elkton and Maryland 7 (Main Street). To the left is Walnut Lane, a connector roadway between Maryland 268 & 279 to Ricketts Mill Road. Across the Big Elk Creek is the south end of Maryland 316. Maryland 316 also intersects Ricketts Mill Road to the north. Photo taken 12/21/01. Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) northbound at the Interstate 95 northbound on-ramp to the Delaware Turnpike. Although there are no signs here that indicate it, Interstate 95 is a toll road between Maryland 279 (Exit 109) and Delaware 896 (Exit 1). The stretch of roadway carries a $2.00 car toll for all passenger vehicles. Photo taken 12/21/01. Attached to the Interstate 95 mainline and c/d roadway overpasses is the southbound guide sign for Baltimore. Maryland 279 interchanges with the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway via a full-cloverleaf interchange. The exit originally consisted of a diamond interchange and was numbered Exit 9. Photo taken 03/28/04. Elkton Road eastbound at the loop ramp onto Interstate 95 southbound. Exit 109 is one of three interchanges of Interstate 95 that serve Elkton County. The others are Exit 100 with Maryland 272 and Exit 93 with Maryland 222. Photo taken 03/28/04. The Exit 109 interchange with Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) is home to two large truck travel plazas on either side of Interstate 95. Elkton Road exists as an expressway between Maryland 316 (Appleton Road) and Belle Hill Road to the southwest. Northeastward Elkton Road maintains itself as a four-lane roadway with traffic lights at the T&A Travel Plaza and Maryland 277 (Fletchwood Road). Photo taken 03/28/04. Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) at the eastern terminus of Maryland 277 (Fletchwood Road) near the Delaware state line. Fletchwood Road carries Maryland 277 1.3 miles west to junction Maryland 316 (Appleton Road) and Elk Mills Road. Elk Mills Road continues west from there to Elk Mills (where Maryland 277 ends), Leeds Road, and junction Maryland 213 (Fair Hill). Stone Gate Boulevard ties into the intersection from the right. Photo taken 03/28/04. Maryland 279 West Maryland 277 westbound leaves Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) south just past the Delaware state line. Maryland 277 (Fletchwood Road) links Elkton Road with Appleton Road (Maryland 316 south), Leeds Road, and Maryland 213 northeast of Elkton. The state route ends at Elk Mills midway between Maryland 316 and 213. Photo taken 04/30/04. Southbound Maryland 279 between Fletchwood Road (Maryland 277) and Iron Hill Road. Iron Hill Road ties into Elkton Road from Chestnut Hill Road (old Delaware 4) to the south. The welcome to Maryland sign resides in the median ahead. Photo taken 04/30/04. 0.25-mile guide sign for the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95 on Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) southbound. Traffic bypassing the Delaware Turnpike Toll plaza returns to Interstate 95 via the on-ramp ahead. The forthcoming traffic light serves a truck stop and Airport Road. Photo taken 08/11/05. Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) southbound at Interstate 95 southbound. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway carries Interstate 95 southbound 45 miles to the junction with the Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695). The next exit otherwise occurs in nine miles with Maryland 272 at North East. Photo taken 08/11/05. A loop ramp provides access to Interstate 95 northbound via the Exit 109 c/d roadway for the Delaware Turnpike toll plaza, Newark, and points north. Originally signs for Interstate 95 northbound on Elkton Road feature the control point of "N.J. Turnpike". These were greened out with "New York" by 1995. Photo taken 08/11/05. Elkton Road travels a four-lane expressway between Belle Hill Road and the southern terminus of Maryland 316 (Appleton Road). Photo taken 08/18/05. The four lanes of Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) combine ahead of junction Maryland 316 (Appleton Road) outside of Elkton. Maryland 316 constitutes a short route between Elkton Road and junction Maryland 277 (Edgewood Road). Photo taken 08/18/05. Maryland 316 (Appleton Road) north departs Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) east of the Elkton Road crossing of the Big Elk Creek. Maryland 316 parallels Maryland 279 for a period before spanning Interstate 95 west of Exit 109. Maryland 316 ends at Fletchwood Road, but Appleton Road continues north all the way to junction Pennsylvania 896 at Kemblesville. Photo taken 08/18/05. A variable speed limit sign lies adjacent to the junction assembly for Maryland 268 at the Big Elk Creek. A series of schools line Maryland 279, now known as Newark Avenue, between Maryland 268 (North Street) and Maryland 213 (Bridge Street). The changeable speed limit signs are posted for the upcoming school zones. Photo taken 08/18/05. Maryland 268, signed as east-west even though it travels north-south, provides a short link between Maryland 279 (Newark Avenue) and downtown Elkton (junction Maryland 7). Walnut Lane ties into the intersection from the north, linking the two state highways with Ricketts Mill Road. Photo taken 08/18/05. Continuing west along Newark Avenue, Maryland 273 narrows even further but still maintains four lanes through to the intersection with Maryland 213 (Bridge Street). Maryland 273 provides the main trucking route between U.S. 40 and Interstate 95 for Elkton. Photo taken 08/18/05. Maryland 273 narrows to two lanes along the final approach to U.S. 40 west of Maryland 213 (Bridge Street). Maryland 213 represents the main north-south route through Elkton, linking the county seat with Fair Hill and Lewisville, Pennsylvania to the north and Chesapeake City and Cecilton to the south. Photo taken 08/18/05. U.S. 40 trailblazers line Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) west from Maryland 213 to its end. Photo taken 08/18/05. Maryland 545 (Blue Ball Road) crosses paths with Maryland 279 (Elkton Road) midway between Maryland 213 and U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway). Maryland 545 spurs northwest from Maryland 213 and Elkton toward Blue Ball along a rural route. Photo taken 08/18/05. Westbound at the Maryland 545 (Blue Ball Road) traffic light on Maryland 273 (Elkton Road) west. Maryland 545 ends a short distance to the southeast via Elkton Boulevard at Bridge Street. Northwest of town, Maryland 545 ventures toward Leeds and its end at Pleasant Hill (intersection with Hill Top Road). Photo taken 08/18/05. The final Maryland 279 reassurance shield, posted between Maryland 545 and the crossing of Little Elk Creek. Photo taken 08/18/05. Maryland 279 curves southward to meet U.S. 40 across from Maryland 7 (Old Philadelphia Road) just west of Elkton. North East lies to the west along both U.S. 40 and Maryland 7. Photo taken 08/18/05. Page Updated June 3, 2007.