MD 279 bypasses Elkton to the north along Newark Avenue from U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) to MD 268 (North Street) and Elkton Road between Big Elk Creek and the Delaware state line at MD 277 (Fletchwood Road). MD 279 comprises the main route between the Cecil County seat and Newark, Delaware. The state route is 4.95 miles long.
The cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95 is well used as it serves both Elkton and Newark while also doubling as part of a shunpike route of the Newark Toll Plaza along I-95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway). Heading south from the exchange and Belle Hill Road, a 1.37 mile long segment of MD 279 is a controlled access expressway.
Route numbering changes made by Fall 2013 in Delaware redesignated SR 2 along Elkton Road as SR 279. This provided route continuity with MD 279 southwest to Elkton. SR 2 was truncated to east Newark at SR 72 (Library Avenue) and SR 273 (Ogletown Road), leaving the westernmost one mile of Elkton Road as new SR 279.
Maryland Route 279 - Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)
- 12,211 - U.S. 40 to MD 545
- 9,531 - MD 545 to MD 213
- 13,471 - MD 213 to MD 268
- 12,931 - MD 316 to Interstate 95
- 25,5551 - Interstate 95 to MD 277
Source: Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) - 2016 Traffic Volume Maps by County
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| MD 279 (Newark Avenue) arcs northeast from U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) and MD 7 (Old Philadelphia Road). 08/27/21 |
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| MD 279 (Newark Avenue) crosses Little Elk Creek midway between U.S. 40 and MD 545 (Blue Ball Road). 01/02/19 |
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| MD 545 loops southeast from MD 279 (Newark Avenue) to MD 213 (N Bridge Street) via Elkton Boulevard. 08/27/21 |
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| MD 545 (Blue Ball Road) spurs northwest to Childs and Pleasant Hill. Blue Ball Road extends to MD 273 (Telegraph Road) at Blue Ball and Barren Road en route to Oxford, Pennsylvania. 08/27/21 |
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| MD 279 arcs eastward across a rural stretch from Blue Ball Road to MD 213 (N Bridge Street). 01/02/19 |
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| MD 213 (N Bridge Street) leads south from MD 213 (Newark Avenue) to Main Street east to Downtown Elkton and the Cecil County Courthouse. 01/02/19 |
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| MD 213 runs north to Cherry Hill, Fair Hill and Lewisville, Pennsylvania. 01/02/19 |
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| MD 213 crosses I-95 without access to the north. The lone interchange for Elkton lies 2.6 miles to the northeast along MD 279. 01/02/19 |
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| Newark Avenue continues east by the Cecil County Public Library and Gilpin Manor Elementary. This stretch was previously four lanes. 01/02/19 |
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| MD 279 (Newark Avenue) expands to four lanes east from the intersection with MD 268 (North Street) and Walnut Lane. MD 268 comprises an urban arterial south across the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor to Main Street at Downtown Elkton. 01/02/19 |
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| Crossing Big Elk Creek, MD 279 (Elkton Road) intersects MD 316 (Appleton Road) north. 12/15/17 |
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| MD 316 overlays Appleton Road 3.67 miles north from Elkton Road to MD 277 (Fletchwood Road). Appleton Road extends north from there to Barksdale, Cowentown and Kemblesville, Pennsylvania. 01/02/19 |
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| Elkton Road expands into a four lane expressway northeast from MD 316 (Appleton Road) 1.57 miles to Belle Hill Road. 12/15/17 |
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| Approaching the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95, MD 279 (Elkton Road) intersects Belle Hill Road by an array of traveler services. 12/15/17 |
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| Belle Hill Road connects with MD 316 (Appleton Road) to the west and Muddy Lane south to MD 281 (Red Hill Road) to the east. 12/15/17 |
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| The northbound entrance ramp to Interstate 95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) departs from MD 279 (Elkton Road) just beyond Belle Hill Road. I-95 enters the Newark Toll Plaza just across the Delaware state line. 12/15/17 |
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| A loop ramp follows onto southbound Interstate 95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) from Elkton Road north. The toll road leads west to Perryville, Havre De Grace, Aberdeen and Baltimore. 12/24/22 |
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| The original exchange joining MD 279 with I-95 was a diamond interchange. It was numbered Exit 9 prior to the Maryland switch to mile based exit numbers. 12/24/22 |
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| Northward from I-95, Elkton Road is a four lane arterial to MD 277 (Fletchwood Road) and the state line. 12/24/22 |
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| Airport Road ties into MD 279 (Elkton Road) across from another truck stop serving I-95 travelers. Named for the old Cecil County Airport, Airport Road stems west to the WL Gore & Associates, Inc. office complex and MD 316 (Appleton Road). 12/24/22 |
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| MD 277 follows Fletchwood Road west 1.32 miles between the Meadowview and West Creek Village subdivisions to MD 316 (Appleton Road). Appleton Road north leads to MSR 273 west for Fair Hill. 12/24/22 |
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| 2.51 miles in length, MD 277 extends west along Elk Mill Road to Elk Mills. MD 279 crosses the Delaware line immediately east of MD 277 (Fletchwood Road) and Stonegate Boulevard. SR 279 extends Elkton Road northeast one mile to SR 4 and SR 896 at Christina Parkway. 12/24/22 |
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| MD 277 (Fletchwood Road) westbound leaves MD 279 (Elkton Road) south just beyond the Delaware state line. The 2.51 mile long route joins Elkton Road with Appleton Road (MD 316 south), Leeds Road, and MD 213 northeast of Elkton. 12/24/22 |
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| Elkton Road advances southwest from Fletchwood Road (MD 277) to Iron Hill Road. Iron Hill Road ties into MD 279 from Chestnut Hill Road (old SR 4) across the Delaware line to the south.
This reassurance marker was removed during construction of a Wawa at MD 277. 04/30/04 |
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| Removed by 2022, the Maryland welcome sign stood within the median of MD 279 (Elkton Road) ahead of Iron Hill Road. 01/04/19 |
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| The traffic light at Airport Road west serves a truck stop to the northeast of Interstate 95. 12/24/22 |
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| An auxiliary lane extends along MD 279 from Airport Road to Interstate 95 south. 12/24/22 |
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| Traffic to I-95 south departs MD 279 (Elkton Newark Road) south. Interstate 95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) travels 45 miles west across Cecil and Harford Counties to the east junction with the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). 12/24/22 |
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| Guide signs for I-95 north on Elkton Road displayed N.J. Turnpike as the northbound control point until 1995. 12/24/22 |
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| The loop ramp from MD 279 south to Interstate 95 northbound joins a collector distributor roadway ahead of the Delaware state line and Newark Toll Plaza. 12/24/22 |
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| Elkton Road opens along a four lane expressway, 1.57 miles southwest from Belle Hill Road to MD 316 (Appleton Road). 08/18/05 |
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| MD 279 (Elkton Road) narrows just ahead of MD 316 (Appleton Road) and the Elkton town limits. 08/18/05 |
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| MD 316 (Appleton Road) constitutes a short route between Elkton Road and MD 277 (Fletchwood Road). Appleton Road continues north from Fletchwood Road to PA 896 at Kemblesville. 08/18/05 |
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| A variable speed limit sign slows traffic for an array of area schools along MD 279 (Newark Avenue) west from Big Elk Creek. MD 268 stems south along North Street from the succeeding intersection. This shield was removed by 2008. 08/18/05 |
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| MD 268 comprises a 0.95 mile link between MD 279 (Newark Avenue) and Main Street (old MD 7) in Downtown Elkton. 01/02/19 |
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| Walnut Lane south ties into the intersection of MD 279 (Newark Avenue) and MD 268 (North Street) from the Gilpin Heights community. 01/02/19 |
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| Continuing west along Newark Avenue, a road diet converted the previous four lane boulevard along MD 279 west to MD 213 (Bridge Street). 01/02/19 |
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| A traffic island separates the left turn lane for MD 213 (Bridge Street) south from the continuation of MD 273 (Newark Avenue) west to U.S. 40. MD 213 runs north from the Cecil County seat to Fair Hill and Lewisville, Pennsylvania and south to Chesapeake City and Cecilton. 01/02/19 |
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| Newark Avenue arcs southwest 1.13 miles from MD 213 to U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway). 08/18/05 |
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| MD 545 (Blue Ball Road) crosses paths with MD 279 (Elkton Road) midway between MD 213 and U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway). 08/18/05 |
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| MD 545 spurs 5.92 miles northwest from MD 213 (Bridge Street) in Elkton toward Leeds, Pleasant Hill and Blue Ball. 08/18/05, 01/02/19 |
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| The final MD 279 confirming marker stands between MD 545 and the crossing of Little Elk Creek. 01/02/19 |
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| The span taking MD 279 across Little Elk Creek was built in 1968 and reconstructed in 1977.1 01/02/19 |
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| MD 279 curves southward to meet U.S. 40 across from MD 7 (Old Philadelphia Road) just outside Elkton. North East lies to the west along both U.S. 40 and MD 7. 01/02/19 |
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| Baltimore and Philadelphia were carried over from older sign designs for U.S. 40 (Pulaski Highway) U.S. 40 generally serves local traffic across Cecil County, joining Elkton with Glasgow, Delaware to the east and North East to the west. 01/02/19 |
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| MD 279 southbound concludes across from the beginning of MD 7 Segment C (Old Philadelphia Road). 01/02/19 |
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| U.S. 40 east bypasses Downtown Elkton to the south along the main commercial strip through town. 01/02/19 |
Photo Credits:04/30/04, 08/18/05, 12/15/17, 01/02/19, 01/04/19, 08/27/21, 12/24/22 by AARoads
Connect with:
Interstate 95
U.S. 40
Route 213
Route 268
Route 277
State Route 279 - Elkton Road
Route 316
Route 545
Page Updated 01-04-2023.
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