Maryland Route 55

Maryland Route 55 (MD 55) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Vale Summit Road, the state highway runs 2.53 miles (4.07 km) from MD 36 in Vale Summit north to U.S. Route 40 Alternate (US 40 Alt.) in Clarysville. MD 55 connects the La Vale area with Midland in the upper Georges Creek Valley in northwestern Allegany County. MD 55 was paved from Clarysville to Vale Summit around 1921 and extended south to Midland in the late 1930s. The state highway was truncated at Vale Summit when MD 36 took over part of the highway for a new alignment in the early 1970s.

Maryland Route 55
Vale Summit Road
Route information
Maintained by MDSHA
Length2.53 mi[1] (4.07 km)
Existed1927–present
Major junctions
South end MD 36 in Vale Summit
North end
US 40 Alt. in Clarysville
Location
CountiesAllegany
Highway system
← MD 54→ MD 56

Route description
View north along MD 55 entering Clarysville
View noth from the north end of MD 55 at MD 36 in Vale Summit

MD 55 begins at an intersection with MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) in Vale Summit. The two-lane undivided highway descends from Vale Summit into the valley of Braddock Run on its way to Clarysville. The state highway starts by heading east through a residential area of Vale Summit. As MD 55 passes the Vale Summit United Methodist Church, which dates back to 1889, the state highway curves to the north and passes by the residential settlements of Loartown and Montel.[2] The state highway descends into Spruce Hollow and passes under Interstate 68 and US 40 (National Freeway) with no access before arriving in Clarysville. MD 55 intersects Clarysville Road, the original alignment of US 40, and passes the site of the Clarysville Inn, a historic inn built in 1807 that was destroyed by a fire in 1999, before reaching its northern terminus at US 40 Alt. (National Pike) in Clarysville.[1][3][4]

History

MD 55 was paved from Clarysville to Vale Summit by 1921.[5] The Vale Summit–Midland segment of the highway was constructed around 1938.[6] When US 40 was relocated in Clarysville around 1950, MD 55 was extended north a short distance to meet the new alignment.[7] MD 55 itself was rebuilt and widened from Clarysville to Vale Summit in 1952 and from there to Midland in 1954.[8] As part of MD 36's relocation between Midland and Frostburg, MD 36 took over the section of MD 55 between Midland and Vale Summit in 1972, leaving MD 55 at its present length.[9]

Junction list

The entire route is in Allegany County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Vale Summit0.000.00 MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) – Midland, FrostburgSouthern terminus
Clarysville2.534.07
US 40 Alt. (National Pike) – Cumberland, Frostburg		Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also
  •  Maryland Roads portal

References
  1. Highway Information Services Division (December 31, 2013). Highway Location Reference. Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  2. "Highlights of the Appalachian Collection". Allegany College of Maryland. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  3. Google (2009-06-15). "Maryland Route 55" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  4. Askey, Carol. "The Historic Clarysville Inn - A Tribute". RootsWeb. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  5. Maryland Geological Survey (1921). Map of Maryland: Showing State Road System and State Aid Roads (Map). Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey.
  6. Maryland State Roads Commission (1938). Map of Maryland Showing State Road System (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission.
  7. 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. p. 168. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  8. McCain, Russell H.; Bennett, Edgar T.; Kelly, Bramwell (November 12, 1954). Report of the State Roads Commission of Maryland (1953–1954 ed.). Baltimore: Maryland State Roads Commission. p. 209. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  9. Maryland State Highway Administration (1972). Maryland: Official Highway Map (Map). Baltimore: Maryland State Highway Administration.

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