Interstate 68 West - Flintstone to Frostburg

I-68/U.S. 40 westbound on the approach to the Cumberland metropolitan area and merge with U.S. 220 at Wolfe Mill. Baltimore Pike (MD 144) passes over the freeway midway between Exits 50 and 47.

08/07/04

The scenery continues along I-68/U.S. 40 westbound as the freeway nears Exit 47 with U.S. 220. U.S. 220 travels 30 miles north to Bedford, Pennsylvania, where U.S. 30, I-70/76 and I-99 converge. U.S. 220 south overlaps with I-68/U.S. 40 west joins the westbound freeway for 4.3 miles through the city of Cumberland.

08/07/04

Rounding the bend toward the Exit 47 ramp departure for U.S. 220 (Bedford Road) northbound. U.S. 220 crosses into Bedford County, PA 4.3 miles north of I-68/U.S. 40.

08/07/04

Traffic bound for U.S. 220 (Bedford Road) northbound utilizes MD 144 (Baltimore Pike) between Exit 47 to Wolfs Mill. Jefferies Road crosses over I-68/U.S. 40 ahead of the half diamond interchange with Baltimore Pike at Exit 47. Dehaven Road intersects MD 144 midway between Exit 47 and U.S. 220.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 westbound at the Exit 47 ramp departure to MD 144 (Baltimore Pike) and U.S. 220 (Bedford Road) northbound. Baltimore Pike crosses over the freeway from the northeast ahead of its intersection with Dehaven and Naves Cross Roads. Exit 46 directly serves Naves Cross Road ahead.

08/07/04

The advent of U.S. 220 traffic emanating from Bedford, Pennsylvania and points north coupled with the narrow nature of I-68/U.S. 40 through Cumberland contribute to the congested nature of the National Freeway between Exits 45 and 41. Pictured here is the MD 144 (Baltimore Pike) over crossing.

08/07/04

Motorists from MD 144 (Baltimore Pike) and DeHaven Road merge onto I-68/U.S. 40 westbound one half mile ahead of the Exit 46 interchange with Naves Cross Road. The Baltimore Pike is visible to westbound drivers to the south.

08/07/04

Exit 46 leaves I-68/U.S. 40 westbound for Naves Cross Road. Naves Cross Road stems northwest from MD 144 (Baltimore Pike) as U.S. 220 to Bedford Road northeast of Cumberland. U.S. 220 southbound traffic joins the National Freeway from the next on-ramp.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 west combine with U.S. 220 south one half mile northeast of Exit 45 for Hillcrest Drive. Hillcrest Drive constitutes a connector between Blake Lane & the National Freeway and Country Club Road.

08/07/04

The first cosigning of Interstate 68 west & U.S. 220. Note the omission of U.S. 40 from the sign assembly.

08/07/04

Exit 45 loops onto Blake Lane ahead of its intersection with Hillcrest Drive. Hillcrest Drive passes over I-68/U.S. 40-220 between Blake Lane and Old U.S. 40 before turning south to Country Club Road. Old U.S. 40 parallels the eastbound lanes of the National Freeway here.

08/07/04

U.S. 40 Alternate emerges at the diamond interchange with Baltimore Avenue and Willowbrook Road. The alternate route follows the original U.S. 40 alignment through Cumberland along Baltimore Avenue, Henderson Avenue, Mechanic Street and the National Highway. The exchange at Exit 44 represents the original eastern terminus of U.S. 48. Between 1973 and the late 1980s, U.S. 48 followed the National Freeway from Cumberland west to Morgantown, West Virginia. U.S. 40 remained along its original alignment from Cumberland to Keysers Ridge to at least 1978.

08/07/04

Exit 44 departs I-68/U.S. 40-220 westbound for U.S. 40 Alternate (Baltimore Avenue) west and Willowbrook Road (MD 639) east. MD 639 ventures east from the National Freeway to Country Club Road, Constitution Park, Allegany College and Williams Road in east Cumberland.

08/07/04

The speed limit decreases to just 40 MPH as the National Freeway enters the heart of Cumberland. The four lane freeway narrows along a curvy stretch of roadway between U.S. 40 Alternate and downtown. Monroe Street crosses over I-68/U.S. 40-220 in the background.

08/07/04

The first in a series of off-ramps to Downtown Cumberland links I-68/U.S. 40-220 westbound with Maryland Avenue at Exit 43D. Maryland Avenue travels between Harrison Street and Oldtown Road in southeast Cumberland.

08/07/04

The National Freeway descends steeply into downtown Cumberland ahead of the Exit 43 loop ramp to Maryland Avenue. The sharp ramp is not advised for large trucks and trucks carrying hazardous materials are prohibited from using the exit. An upcoming exits overhead lists the distances for Exit 43B and 43A.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 west and U.S. 220 south elevate onto a four lane viaduct through the central business district of Cumberland. The rapid fire exits continue with the ramp departure of Exit 43C to Harrison Street, Centre Street, Queen City Drive, and Cumberland Amtrak Station.

08/07/04

Exit 43B departs Interstate 68 westbound adjacent to the Exit 43C off-ramp and ahead of the Harrison Street on-ramp from MD 51 north and Mechanic Street. MD 51 follows Industrial Boulevard south from downtown Cumberland to South Cumberland and Evitts Creek. The state route begins at Interstate 68 and travels southeast to North Branch, Oldtown, and Paw Paw, West Virginia.

08/07/04

Continuing westbound over MD 51 (Industrial Boulevard) / Mechanic Street, Wills Creek, and Water Street. Interstate 68 briefly parallels the Potomac River near the Water Street Bridge to Ridgeley, West Virginia.

08/07/04

Exit 43A leaves I-68/U.S. 40 west and U.S. 220 south for Beall Street west. Trailblazers direct motorists from the off-ramp to Lee Street north, Greene Street (original U.S. 220) east and Water Street south to Ridgeley, West Virginia and WV 28 Alternate (Bridge Street). WV 28 Alternate flows south along the Potomac River from Cumberland to WV 28 at Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (CBE).

08/07/04

U.S. 220 southbound splits from I-68/U.S. 40 westbound at the diamond interchange (Exit 42) with Greene Street in west Cumberland. Traffic merges onto the National Freeway westbound from Lee Street south and Beale Street east 0.75 miles east of Exit 42.

08/07/04

The National Freeway passes over the CSX Railroad line and Kelly Road one quarter mile ahead of the U.S. 220 southbound off-ramp onto Greene Street (Exit 42). Greene Street parallels I-68/U.S. 40-220 west from Water Street to Exit 42 and the Fairgrounds.

08/07/04

Interstate 68 westbound maintains three lanes through the partition with U.S. 220 south at Greene Street (Exit 42). U.S. 220 leaves the National Freeway en route to Cresaptown, Rawlings and McCoole in western Allegany County. U.S. 220 (McMullen Highway) crosses the Potomac River 18.3 miles to the southwest into Keyser, West Virginia.

08/07/04

Exit 42 splits into two separate ramps, the first ramp serves Ridgedale Avenue and the National Guard Armory while the second ramp continues U.S. 220 south to Greene Street. Ridgedale Avenue passes over the National Freeway ahead of the Greene Street under crossing.

08/07/04

A loop ramp carries westbound travelers onto Seton Drive northbound from I-68/U.S. 40 at Exit 41. Seton Drive snakes north to Braddock Road and Sacred Heart Hospital in west Cumberland. There are no return ramps to Interstate 68 in either direction from Exit 41.

08/07/04

Seton Drive intersects Braddock Road just north of Interstate 68. Braddock Road parallels the National Freeway west from Greene Street to the Cumberland city line. The surface street becomes MD 49 upon exiting the city.

08/07/04

Campground and Vocke Roads tie into I-68/U.S. 40 at the parclo interchange with MD 49 (Braddock Road). Campground Road acts as a connector between Braddock Road and U.S. 40 Alternate (National Highway) to the north. Vocke Road continues Braddock Road west to MD 53 (Winchester Road).

08/07/04

Button copy overheads adorn the sign bridge posted ahead of the Exit 40 off-ramp to Vocke Road. The signs date from the designation of the National Freeway as U.S. 48 (1972-1991). Visible on the U.S. 40 Alternate (National Highway) panel to the left is an imprint of a U.S. shield. U.S. 40 followed the National Highway until at leats 1978.

08/07/04

Exit 40 loops onto Braddock Road (MD 49) near its intersection with Campground Road. Vocke Road begins in name southwest of I-68/U.S. 40 one half mile ahead of MD 53 (Winchester Road). MD 53 travels three miles south from there to U.S. 220 at Cresaptown.

08/07/04

Exit 39 directly serves U.S. 40 Alternate (National Highway) from I-68/U.S. 40 westbound. The National Highway parallels the National Freeway closely from Campground Road west to Clarysville. U.S. 40 Alternate enters the scene from LaVale one mile to the east. The button copy signs present at the Exit 39 off-ramp reveal U.S. shield imprints on both panels dating from the U.S. 48 designation in the 1970s and 1980s. The imprint on the right hand panel was centered relating to the fact that U.S. 40 Alternate was still U.S. 40.

08/07/04

Continuing westward along I-68/U.S. 40 toward the city of Frostburg and MD 36 (Exit 34).

08/07/04

MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) intersects I-68/U.S. 40 at the Exit 34 diamond interchange near Vale Summit. The state highway stems north from WV 46 at Westernport to Lonaconing, Midland, and Frostburg.

08/07/04

Nearing the Exit 34 off-ramp to MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road). MD 36 intersects MD 55 (Vale Summit Road) one mile to the south. New Georges Creek Road merges with U.S. 40 Alternate along Main Street in Frostburg 1.6 miles to the northwest.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 west at MD 36 (Exit 34). MD 36 accompanies U.S. 40 Alternate for 0.75 miles along Main Street in Frostburg. The state route travels two miles north to Zihlman and 4.3 miles to Mt. Savage via Mt. Savage Road from central Frostburg. MD 36 reaches Westernport 15 miles to the south.

08/07/04

I-68/U.S. 40 descend again toward the Exit 33 diamond interchange with Midlothian Road southwest of Frostburg. Midlothian Road continues Braddock Street 1.3 miles south from Park Avenue in Frostburg to meet the freeway at Midlothian.

08/07/04

Westbound shield assembly for I-68/U.S. 40 posted ahead of the MD 936 (Upper Georges Creek Road) under crossing. There is no direct access to MD 936 from the National Freeway.

08/07/04

Nearing the Exit 33 ramp departure for Midlothian Road and Frostburg on I-68/U.S. 40 west. The interchange represents the last within Allegany County.

08/07/04

Midlothian Road continues south from Exit 33 to Old Legislative Road and Klondike Road to MD 936 (Upper Georges Creek Road) at Ocean. MD 936 heads south from there to Midland.

08/07/04