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I-68

Garrett
Allegany
Washington
I-68 · National Freeway
81.09 mi. in Maryland; from WV Line east to I-70, Hancock.

Marked east-west.

Sideling Hill

Plans for the National Freeway were first conceived in the 1970s, as a means to enhance access to the far western counties of Allegany and Garrett, which hitherto relied upon US 40 for all east-west travel. The region was better linked geographically and economically to adjacent parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania than to the rest of Maryland. US 48 was then assigned to the completed sections off I-70 in Hancock and the original US 40 Bypass in Cumberland, and multiplexed with US 40 in incomplete areas.

I-68 is touted by Maryland as the 'new route west' by several signs along westbound I-70, an alternative to Breezewood and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It didn't start out that way. The state originally had no intent to give the National Freeway Interstate status, and planned to leave it as US 48, especially given the substandard 1960s vintage elevated section near Cumberland. I-68 was being reserved for the section of US 50 from Washington to Annapolis that had been constructed with Interstate funds. SHA later decided to keep 50 as the sole number on that stretch, shaking loose the I-68 number; it's secretly numbered I-595 today. About the same time, circa 1991, the final section of full limited access highway was completed, upon which it was decided to change the National Freeway from US 48 to I-68.

Other Resources:
Scott Kozel's Roads to the Future website offers an I-68 page, including photos along the way.

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68
  0.0 WV Line
  3.8   4 MD 42
13.8 14 US 40*
13.8 14 US 219*
19.2 19 MD 495
22.2 22 US 219*
24.0 24 Lower New Germany Rd.
29.8 29 Md 546
31.8 GA-AL Line
33.3 33 MD 736
33.3 33 Midlothian
35.0 34 MD 36
39.2 39 MD 53
39.9 40 MD 658
42.3 42 US 219
42.3 42 Greene
43.6 43a Johnson
43.9 43bc S. Mechanic
44.2 43d Park
44.9 44 US 40 Alt
44.9 44 MD 639
45.8 45 MD 952
46.5 46 US 220
46.5 46 MD 144
47.2 47 MD 144
51.3 50 MD 948
51.3 50 Pleasant Valley
52.5 52 MD 144
55.6 56 MD 144
62.9 62 US 40 Scenic
64.2 64 MV Smith Rd.
68.7 68 Orleans Rd.
71.6 72 High Germany Rd.
72.1 AL-WA Line
73.6 74 MD 903
77.2 77 MD 144
81.1 82 I-70 1
81.1 82 US 522 1