Route 5 South

Upon passing through the interchange with the Capital Beltway (Interstate 95-495), MD 5 continues on its way south from the Maryland-District of Columbia border southeast toward Andrews Air Force Base via Branch Avenue. The entire route from the District southeast to U.S. 301 is a divided highway, and the section from the Beltway south to MD 223 is a freeway. This picture shows the first set of guide signs along southbound MD 5 after the Beltway interchange.

06/01/04

This distance sign provides the distance to several key points of interest, including the MD 223 (Woodyard Road) interchange (four miles), the junction where U.S. 301 and MD 5 merge, and the community of Waldorf. The next two exits (Linda Lane and MD 337) are omitted here.

06/01/04

Southbound MD 5 reaches the Linda Lane exit, which is almost a 90-degree exit onto the frontage road. While there is access back onto southbound, there is no direct access to northbound MD 5.

06/01/04

The next exit along southbound is the MD 337/Allentown Road interchange. The MD 337 exit leads southwest into Camp Springs and east to Andrews Air Force Base.

06/01/04

Since the exits are not numbered along MD 5, the gore point signage here uses a MD 337 shield affixed to a small green guide sign.

06/01/04

This distance sign provides the distances to the next three exits: Old Branch Avenue/Kirby Road, one mile; Coventry Way, 1.25 miles; and Schultz Road, two miles. Note that MD 5 retains its freeway characteristics, and there is no cross traffic.

06/01/04

The Old Branch Avenue/Kirby Road exit accesses services for food and gas; to reach Old Alexandria Ferry Road, use the Coventry Road exit.

06/01/04

Old Branch Avenue, which has paralleled MD 5 since the Capital Beltway, is the old alignment of MD 5 before the current freeway/expressway was constructed. At this interchange, Old Branch Avenue departs in a southwesterly direction away from MD 5. Kirby Road is an east-west road that heads west to Tinkers Creek Stream Valley Park.

06/01/04

Southbound MD 5 reaches the Old Branch Avenue and Kirby Road exit. The next exit is Coventry Way to Andrews Air Force Base and Old Alexandria Ferry Road.

06/01/04

Views of the exit ramp for the Old Branch Avenue/Kirby Road interchange. The off-ramp for Coventry Road follows very quickly.

06/01/04

The next exit along southbound is Coventry Way / Old Alex Ferry Road, which leads to Clinton and Andrews Air Force Base. An interchange sequence sign appears one mile ahead of Schultz Road, Surratts Road meets MD 5 at an at-grade intersection.

06/01/04

Now reaching Schultz Road, MD 5 continues as a freeway. Most maps do not display MD 5 as a freeway, but it is completely access controlled for another several miles … but not all the way to U.S. 301.

06/01/04

Schultz Road connects MD 5 with Springbrook Lane and Old Branch Avenue.

06/01/04

A southbound MD 5 shield is posted just prior to the exit ramp to MD 223/Woodyard Road. MD 223 heads southeast to Piscataway and west to MD 4 east of Andrews Air Force Base.

06/01/04

After passing the MD 223/Woodyard Road interchange, the MD 5 freeway begins to end. The first sign of the transition from freeway to expressway with intersections is the termination of the left lane on the bridge over Woodyard Road.

06/01/04

The second tell-tale sign of the end of the freeway is a traffic delay. At the time this photo was taken, it was the afternoon commute, and MD 5 was clogged with traffic from Woodyard Road south to U.S. 301. There are a series of traffic signals ahead that regulate the traffic.

06/01/04

As noted on a previous distance sign three miles back, Surratts Road is the next junction after MD 223 (Woodyard Road). The afternoon peak hour traffic continues south along MD 5.

06/01/04

Ample rights of way provide space for future expansion of MD 5 perhaps into a six lane freeway. The highway is not developed in any way, and access points are limited to the traffic signalized intersections.

06/01/04

The next intersection along southbound is the Brandywine Road intersection, which allows traffic to turn east to meet U.S. 301 north en route to Bowie and Annapolis.

06/01/04

In addition, Brandywine Road connects with MD 381, which heads southeast to Ashbox, Horsehead, Poplar Hill, and Patuxent.

06/01/04

The next intersection along southbound is with MD 373. MD 373 goes west to MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) near Accokeek.

06/01/04

After MD 373, MD 5 reaches the interchange with U.S. 301. All traffic is diverted onto southbound U.S. 301 & MD 5.

06/01/04

Southbound MD 5 becomes the left lanes of combined U.S. 301-MD 5 south as they merge in this photo.

06/01/04

MD 5 crosses Indian Creek into St. Marys County. MD 5 advances south along Three Notch Road to Oaks, Newmarket and Mechanicsville.

09/25/04

Mohawk Drive spurs 0.72 miles east from MD 5 (Three Notch Road) to North Indian Creek Estates.

09/25/04