My first time back to the Hampstead area in nearly 8 years, and behold, there be a road here! I had somehow completely missed the news of the groundbreaking. We are at the MD 482 circle for the first few shots. This is north along the new 30. (07-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, from the MD 482 circle. (07-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, from the MD 482 circle. Looking south. (07-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, from the MD 482 circle. Looking east. (07-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, at southern approach of Business 30. (07-06-2009) The first Business 30 marker. (07-06-2009) Heading back out, east on MD 88. (07-06-2009) Heading back out, east on MD 88. Approaching Lower Beckleysville circle. We'll backtrack into town onto old MD 88, now signed MD 833. (07-06-2009) Set the controls for the heart of the sun. MD 833 marker, Hampstead. (07-06-2009) On (now) Business 30 at northern approach to Hampstead Bypass. (07-06-2009) Northern approach of mainline MD 30 to Hampstead Bypass, adjacent to Brodbeck's Garage and junkyard. (07-06-2009) Northern approach of mainline MD 30 to Hampstead Bypass, adjacent to Brodbeck's Garage and junkyard. (07-06-2009) Access road for small piece of Hanover Pike that will be closed at both ends. There's a Weis Market and several houses thereon. This little section could be designated MD 668 (number used historically for sections of old 30). (07-06-2009) End of MD 833 at MD 30, Hampstead. This would be where the center dot goes on the map. Note old bank building and, I guess, tall grain building behind (don't know for sure). We'll be stopping by there later. (07-12-2009) Main Street, Hampstead (still mainline MD 30 then), southbound, approaching MD 88. Note to Google Maps, that sign only says "TO" 137 there. They have both 88-137 ending here. (07-12-2009) Houcksville Road (was MD 90 until 1955), westbound, approaching bridge over Hampstead Bypass. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Houcksville Road bridge over Hampstead Bypass, theme shot of joints. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Hampstead Bypass looking north from Houcksville Road overpass, looking north. Paving complete, just need lines and rumble strips. (07-12-2009) Sunset from Houcksville Road (was MD 90 until 1955), westbound, just past bridge over Hampstead Bypass. This sucky camera doesn't do it justice. (07-12-2009) Sunset from Houcksville Road (was MD 90 until 1955), westbound, just past bridge over Hampstead Bypass. This sucky camera doesn't do it justice. (07-12-2009) East end of Houcksville Road (was MD 90 until 1955) at MD 30 (Main St), Hampstead, looking across at beginning of MD 88. (07-12-2009) We return the following weekend. Here's the view southbound on MD 30 approaching the bypass split. (07-18-2009) Southbound on MD 30 appraching the bypass split. (07-18-2009) Southbound on MD 30 appraching Hampstead Bypass. This time, the old 30 is now closed and all traffic was being routed through the circle. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. I walk down a few hundred yards for the next few shots. Just before 2:00 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Low humidity, too. The camera looks like it shot this scene behind sunglasses. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. Couldn't ask for more in terms of weather. That went for much of the time spent out here; weather was great, only sometimes ran out of daylight. So much unlike the ICC photos, where the weather often sank to the occasion. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass. Mileage sign shot. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking south from northern end circle. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, now looking back to the northern end circle with Business 30. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, looking north to water tank. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northern end circle ramp to (soon to be) Business 30. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northern end circle ramp to (soon to be) Business 30. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northern end circle ramp to (soon to be) Business 30. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northern end circle ramp to (soon to be) Business 30. (07-18-2009) Back into town on Main Street. I encounter my car's twin parked at left. In a backup, approaching light at MD 482. (07-18-2009) MD 30 Hanover Pike (as it's called outside town), approaching southern end circle to Hampstead Bypass. Note the billboards along the old alignment, which was covered over. (07-18-2009) The next weekend, I took an end-to-end bike ride of the bypass, something I'd never think about with the ICC, in the post 9/11, security-conscious DC suburbs (where just taking the pictures may be suspicious). Out here though, you get the feeling nobody cares yet. Northern end of I-795, Reisterstown. (07-25-2009) Northern end of I-795 becomes MD 795, Reisterstown. (07-25-2009) Northern end of MD 795, at MD 30, Reisterstown. MD 128 is straight ahead.(07-25-2009) MD 30 northbound at Old Hanover Pike split (former MD 668) at right. MD 668 was dropped in 1985. (07-25-2009) MD 30 northbound, at MD 91, Fowblesburg. (07-25-2009) MD 30 northbound, entering Carroll County. We're behind this Prius for the next several shots. (07-25-2009) MD 30 northbound, approaching southern Hampstead Bypass circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 (Now Business 30) northbound, official welcome sign for Hampstead. (07-25-2009) MD 30 (Now Business 30) northbound, the 'fancy' welcome sign. That Prius is still with me. (07-25-2009) Now to the bike ride. I parked at North Carroll High School near MD 482. Then I head south, then north past MD 482, then back south to the starting point, a total of 9 miles. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Bridge over Shiloh Rd. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Approaching Houcksville Rd overpass, where we got photos a few weeks back. (07-25-2009) Back to the ground. MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Appraching Doss Garland Rd. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. You can just make out the southern end circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Approaching southern end circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Southern end sign shot. (07-25-2009) Back north now. The first mileage sign. We are indeed twice as close to Hanover as Baltimore. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Appraching Doss Garland Rd. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. The green hills and clouds are evocative of Scotland. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Houcksville Road bridge ahead. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Houcksville Road bridge. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Theme shot at Houcksville Road bridge. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Houcksville Road bridge abutment. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Theme shot at Houcksville Road bridge. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Hampstead Elementary School at right. Though there's no direct access, that makes this stretch speed-camera-eligible, should the county or town so choose. This also applies near North Carroll High School up near MD 482. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Bridge over Shiloh Road. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Bridge over Shiloh Road. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Sign shot. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Approching MD 482 circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Approching MD 482 circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Approching MD 482 circle. We still have a porta-pot. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. First MD 30 marker past MD 482 circle. I'm not so sure about the Bike Route designation. I don't know if I could ride this thing once open. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Radio tower at right. We'll get more into that on the way back. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. I am not alone. A bit comforting that I'm not the last surviving human. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Have to rest at top of this next hill. I rode 32 miles at a clip on flat rail trails, but nothing prepared me for these 9 miles of hills. (07-25-2009) It's maybe a mile out to these houses. Between, nothing. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. Sign shot for northern end circle. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, northbound. This should look familiar. (07-25-2009) Turning back south. MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Back downhill. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Radio tower comes into view. Between this tower, and the red-white box tower off 140 in Finksburg, and you never get lost around here. One or the other is always visible. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Radio tower is over 700 feet tall, reaches to 1600 feet AMSL, the highest man-made structure elevation in Greater Baltimore. So it says on my flight charts.(07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) Radio tower off MD 30 Hampstead Bypass. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Coming back toward MD 482 where we started 9 miles ago. My legs feel like jello at this point. There's still the matter of the drive home. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Approaching MD 482. The lights are already wired up, for no one just yet. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Approaching MD 482. (07-25-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, pre-opening, southbound. Approaching MD 482. Perhaps the last unpaved section. (07-25-2009) MD 482 near South Carroll HS. Finally back to the car. Craving sushi for some reason. Hunger overrides my exhaustion. A quick turn back north is in order, in the quest for Alaska rolls. (07-25-2009) Done after a long day... Main Street, (now Business) MD 30 southbound. Leaving Hampstead at the RR crossing. (07-25-2009) I now go into the center of Hampstead and take a look around the old rail station and the Mysterious Tall Building. But first I notice this antenna tower on Gill Avenue. It's a ham radio antenna, commonly called a tribander. Most places, zoning regs prohibit such antennas. No so here, apparently. Hampstead rail station and the Mysterious Tall Building. Maybe someone local can tell me exactly what it is. (07-31-2009) Hampstead rail station. (07-31-2009) Hampstead rail station. (07-31-2009) Hampstead rail station. (07-31-2009) Hampstead rail station. (07-31-2009) Back to business now. August 5, the day before opening. At the northern end circle. (08-05-2009) August 5, D minus 1. At the northern end circle. (08-05-2009) August 5, D minus 1. Back to that old familiar place, the Houcksville bridge, looking north. (08-05-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, day before opening, looking north from Houcksville Road. (08-05-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, day before opening, looking north from Houcksville Road. (08-05-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, day before opening, looking north from Houcksville Road. (08-05-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, day before opening, looking north from Houcksville Road. I used this shot as the wall photo for the Facebook fan page. (08-05-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, day before opening, looking north from Houcksville Road. (08-05-2009) It's well out of town, but I kept forgetting to capture this. An old-style 1970s vintage MD 88 marker. (08-05-2009) Opening Day, August 6, 5:30 pm. Much to do. First day photos, then drive through for the right-side mileage tables. Approaching on MD 30 from the south. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Approaching Houcksville Rd bridge. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Just past Houcksville Rd bridge. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Just past Houcksville Rd bridge. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Just past Houcksville Rd bridge. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Approaching MD 482. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Just past MD 482, radio tower at right. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, northbound. Approaaching northern end circle. (08-06-2009) Just the facts, ma'am. MD 30 Hanover Pike, northbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Main Street. Jumped into light speed and overshot into Manchester. (08-06-2009) MD 30 southbound, Greenmount, near Cape Horn Road. MD 30 southbound, Greenmount. These Nesquik billboards were ubiquitous around here. Hey, I got two Qs in the same sentence! Scrabble, anyone? MD 30 southbound, Greenmount. The electric sign trumpets that the bypass is open. MD 30 southbound, Greenmount. The first Junction Business 30 marker. MD 30 southbound, approaching northern Hampstead Bypass circle with Business 30. MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Radio tower in sight. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Approaching MD 482 circle. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Just past MD 482 circle. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. At Houcksville Road bridge. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Approaching southern end circle with business 30. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Sun shot. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. (08-06-2009) MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, opening day, southbound. Craving my favorite Roy Rogers burgers, so it's off to Westminster to the last remaining Roy's anyplace close. Westbound MD 482, toward that fat old sun. (08-06-2009) MD 482 westbound, what you can see of it. (08-06-2009) MD 482 westbound, what you can see of it. (08-06-2009) MD 482 westbound, what you can see of it. (08-06-2009) Cross at MD 27-482 junction. It's even more noticeable from the air. (08-06-2009) MD 27-482 junction, Mexico. (08-06-2009) MD 27 westbound, approaching Westminster. (08-06-2009) MD 27 westbound, approaching Westminster. (08-06-2009) MD 27 ramp to westbound MD 140, Westminster. (08-06-2009) MD 140 bridge over MD 27, Westminster. (08-06-2009) MD 140, Westminster. Another sun shot. (08-06-2009) Like a sentinel in the night, Roy's finally appears! (08-06-2009) Hahn Rd., Westminster. Behind the Roy Rogers. Just a shadow shot with sun behind. (08-06-2009) Back east on MD 27, Mexico. (08-06-2009) Back east on MD 27, Mexico. The Cross is visible ahead. (08-06-2009) Cross at 27-482 junction. (08-06-2009) Sunset on MD 27 eastbound. (08-06-2009) MD 852 signage off MD 27, approaching Manchester. (08-06-2009) MD 30 southbound, Main Street, Manchester. (08-06-2009) Sky shot off former MD 27, Manchester. This ridge is over 1000 feet AMSL. (08-06-2009) Sunset shot. MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northbound near south end. (08-19-2009) Sunset shot, one of my personal favorites. As usual, phone camera doesn't do justice. MD 30 Hampstead Bypass, northbound near south end. (08-19-2009) Summer turned to fall, and the last thing needed was a photo of a green Business 30 marker once they went up. (10-30-2009) This is the actual light level. (10-30-2009) MD 30 southbound at Gill Avenue, Hampstead. A new green Business 30 marker lie ahead. (10-30-2009) Green Business 30 marker. (10-30-2009) Green Business 30 marker. (10-30-2009) "Second star to the right, and straight on 'till morning."]]>