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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Schultz Road connects MD 5 with Springbrook Lane and Old Branch Avenue. 06/01/04 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| In addition, Brandywine Road connects with MD 381, which heads southeast to Ashbox, Horsehead, Poplar Hill, and Patuxent. 06/01/04 |
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| The next intersection along southbound is with MD 373. MD 373 goes west to MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) near Accokeek. 06/01/04 |
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| 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 |
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| Southbound MD 5 becomes the left lanes of combined U.S. 301-MD 5 south as they merge in this photo. 06/01/04 |
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| U.S. 301/MD 5 combine for 2.55 miles south along Crain Highway to the Charles County line. 12/31/16 |
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| U.S. 301 angles southwest from MD 5 toward La Plata, the seat of Charles County and the Potomac River. 12/31/16 |
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| Chadds Ford Drive spurs 0.64 miles west to apartments and suburban development. Timothy Branch Road ties in from the Brandywine Crossing retail center to the east. 12/31/16 |
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| The succeeding signal on U.S. 301/MD 5 south is with Clymer Drive west and Matapeake Business Drive east. 12/31/16 |
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| Cedarville Road meanders east from Crain Highway to Townshend, Cedarville and MD 381. McKendree Road extends 2.66 miles northwest to MD 373 (Accokee Road). 12/31/16 |
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| MD 5 branches southeast from U.S. 301 to St. Mary's City and Point Lookout State Park where the Potomac River converges with Chesapeake Bay. 12/31/16 |
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| U.S. 301/MD 5 southbound expand to six lanes ahead of their split at Mattawoman Beantown Road. MD 5 runs along the east side of Waldorf toward Lexington Park and Leonardtown. 12/31/16 |
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| U.S. 301/MD 5 cross Mattawoman Creek into Charles County and the community of Waldorf. 12/31/16 |
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| U.S. 301 (Crain Highway) continues southwest from MD 5 to La Plata and the Governor Nice Bridge over the Potomac River into Virginia. MD 5 heads southeast to Hughesville and Charlotte Hall in St. Mary's County. 12/31/16 |
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| 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 |
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| Mohawk Drive spurs 0.72 miles east from MD 5 (Three Notch Road) to North Indian Creek Estates. 09/25/04 |
Page Updated 08-31-2010.
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