Maryland Route 253

Maryland Route 253 marker

Maryland Route 253
Mayo Road

Maryland Route 253 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length: 1.34 mi[1] (2.16 km)
Existed: 1927 – present
Tourist
routes:		 Roots and Tides Scenic Byway
Major junctions
South end: MD 214 in Edgewater
North end: MD 2 in Edgewater
Location
Counties: Anne Arundel
Highway system
← MD 252MD 254 →

Maryland Route 253 (MD 253) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Mayo Road, the route runs 1.34 miles (2.16 km) from MD 214 north to MD 2 within Edgewater. MD 253 was constructed in Edgewater in the early 1910s and early 1920s. The highway was extended southeast through Mayo to Beverly Beach in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The part of MD 253 southeast of Edgewater became part of MD 214 in 1950.

Route description

MD 253 begins at an intersection with MD 214 (Central Avenue) across from the entrance to South River High School. The route heads north as a two-lane road that forms the main street through the Londontowne area of Edgewater. The highway intersects Stepneys Lane and Londontown Road; the latter road leads east to the historic London Town Publik House, located next to the landing of a former ferry across South River. After passing Washington Road, which leads to Edgewater Elementary School and South River Park, the road turns northwest and reaches its northern terminus at MD 2 (Solomons Island Road) across from the entrance to Lee Airport.[1][2]

History

When the Maryland State Roads Commission laid out its state road system in 1909, the Annapolis–Prince Frederick road was planned to follow Mayo Road and Stepneys Lane through Edgewater to what is now MD 2's existing course.[3] The road that became MD 2 was instead built along the line it runs now and Mayo Road from that highway to south of Stepneys Lane was built as a 9-foot (2.7 m) wide gravel state-aid road by 1915.[4] The highway was extended as a gravel road to near the present MD 214 intersection by 1921 and to the entrance to Camp Letts by 1923.[5][6] These extensions were built and the old state-aid road through Edgewater was rebuilt with a width of 15 feet (4.6 m).[7] MD 253 was extended east to Selby-on-the-Bay in 1929 and 1930.[8][9] The state highway reached MD 214's present terminus in Beverly Beach in 1932.[10][11]

By 1934, traffic on MD 253 was dense enough that the Maryland State Roads Commission recommended widening the highway from 16 to 20 feet (4.9 to 6.1 m) from Edgewater to Beverly Beach. MD 253 was resurfaced and widened to 30 feet (9.1 m) from MD 2 to Washington Road in 1948 and to 34 feet (10 m) from Washington Road to Stepneys Lane in 1952.[12][13] MD 214 was extended along a new route from Pike Ridge Road west of MD 2 to MD 253 east of the modern MD 214–MD 253 intersection in 1949.[14][15] The following year, MD 214 replaced MD 253 on Mayo Road from that junction to Beverly Beach.[16] MD 253's current intersection with MD 214 was built in 1963.[17] The old alignment remained in the state highway system as MD 253A until 2000.[18][19]

Junction list

The entire route is in Edgewater, Anne Arundel County.

mi
[1]		kmDestinationsNotes
0.000.00 MD 214 (Central Avenue) – Davidsonville, MayoSouthern terminus
1.342.16 MD 2 (Solomons Island Road) – Annapolis, Prince FrederickNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary route

MD 253A was the designation for a 0.42-mile (0.68 km) section of Mayo Road bypassed when MD 253's southern terminus was moved to a new intersection with MD 214 in 1963.[17][18] MD 253A was removed from the state highway system in 2000.[19] Most of the road was physically removed for the construction of a residential subdivision.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  2. ↑ Google (2013-01-04). "Maryland Route 253" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  3. ↑ Maryland Geological Survey (1910). Map of Maryland (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  4. ↑ Weller, O.E.; Parran, Thomas; Miller, W.B.; Perry, John M.; Ramsay, Andrew; Smith, J. Frank (May 1916). "Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1912–1915 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 122. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  5. ↑ Maryland Geological Survey (1921). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  6. ↑ Maryland Geological Survey (1923). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  7. ↑ Mackall, John N.; Darnall, R. Bennett; Brown, W.W. (January 1927). "Annual Reports of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1924–1926 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 37, 66. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  8. ↑ Uhl, G. Clinton; Bruce, Howard; Shaw, John K. (October 1, 1930). "Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1927–1930 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 196. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  9. ↑ Maryland Geological Survey (1930). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  10. ↑ Byron, William D.; Lacy, Robert (December 28, 1934). "Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1931–1934 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 22, 318. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  11. ↑ Maryland Geological Survey (1933). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System: State Aid Roads and Improved County Road Connections (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  12. ↑ Reindollar, Robert M.; George, Joseph M.; McCain, Russell H. (February 15, 1949). "Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1947–1948 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 19. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  13. ↑ McCain, Russell H.; Hall, Avery W.; Nichols, David M. (December 15, 1952). "Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1951–1952 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 136. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  14. ↑ Reindollar, Robert M.; George, Joseph M.; McCain, Russell H. (December 20, 1950). "Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland" (1949–1950 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission: 122. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  15. ↑ Maryland State Roads Commission (1949). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  16. ↑ Maryland State Roads Commission (1950). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  17. 1 2 Maryland State Roads Commission (1963). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  18. 1 2 Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 1999). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  19. 1 2 Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2000). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2013-01-05.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

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