# Maryland Route 320

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Maryland_Route_320.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Route_320
> Source revision: 1288675028
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|State highway in Maryland, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=MD
|type=MD
|route=320
|alternate_name=Piney Branch Road
|map_alt=
|map={{maplink-road}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=Maryland Route 320 highlighted in red
|length_mi=2.84
|length_round=2
|length_ref=<ref name="Maryland HLR"/>
|established=1927
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a=Piney Branch Road at the [District of Columbia](/source/District_of_Columbia) boundary in [Takoma Park](/source/Takoma_Park%2C_Maryland)
|junction={{plainlist|
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|410}} in Takoma Park
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|193}} in [Silver Spring](/source/Silver_Spring%2C_Maryland)
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{jct|state=MD|MD|650}} in [Adelphi](/source/Adelphi%2C_Maryland)
|counties=[Montgomery](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Maryland), [Prince George's](/source/Prince_George's_County%2C_Maryland)
|previous_type=MD
|previous_route=318
|next_type=MD
|next_route=322
|browse=
}}

'''Maryland Route 320''' ('''MD 320''') is a [state highway](/source/state_highway) in the U.S. state of [Maryland](/source/Maryland). Known as '''Piney Branch Road''', the highway runs {{convert|2.84|mi|km}} from [Eastern Avenue](/source/Eastern_Avenue_(Washington%2C_D.C.)) at the [District of Columbia](/source/District_of_Columbia) boundary in [Takoma Park](/source/Takoma_Park%2C_Maryland) north to [MD 650](/source/Maryland_Route_650) in [Adelphi](/source/Adelphi%2C_Maryland). MD 320 is a southwest&ndash;northeast highway that connects Takoma Park and [Silver Spring](/source/Silver_Spring%2C_Maryland) in southeastern [Montgomery County](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Maryland) with Adelphi in far western [Prince George's County](/source/Prince_George's_County%2C_Maryland). The state highway originally extended from downtown Silver Spring to [White Oak](/source/White_Oak%2C_Maryland) and connected with [U.S. Route 29](/source/U.S._Route_29_in_Maryland) (US 29) at both ends. The Silver Spring&ndash;Adelphi portion of the highway was constructed in 1910. The segment through Takoma Park and the Adelphi&ndash;White Oak segment, which later became MD 650, were built in the early 1930s; the Takoma Park portion was built as MD 513. MD 320 was widened over its whole length in the late 1940s and reduced to its present course in the mid-1950s.

==Route description==
thumb|left|View north along MD 320 at MD 193 in Silver Spring
thumb|right|MD 320 southbound at Manchester Road in Silver Spring
MD 320 begins at the intersection of Piney Branch Road and Eastern Avenue at the District of Columbia boundary in the city of Takoma Park. Piney Branch Road continues southwest into Washington, where it immediately passes under [CSX](/source/CSX_Transportation)'s [Metropolitan Subdivision](/source/Metropolitan_Subdivision) railroad line and the [Washington Metro](/source/Washington_Metro)'s [Red Line](/source/Red_Line_(Washington_Metro)). Eastern Avenue provides access to the [Takoma station](/source/Takoma_station) on the Red Line and the [Takoma Park Historic District](/source/Takoma_Park_Historic_District_(Takoma_Park%2C_Maryland)) to the southeast; the street also leads to the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus of [Montgomery College](/source/Montgomery_College) to the northwest. MD 320 heads northeast as a narrow two-lane undivided road. The highway expands as it veers north at [one-way](/source/one-way_traffic) northbound Chestnut Avenue and intersects MD 410 (Philadelphia Avenue). The highway curves northeast and gains a center turn lane as it leaves the city of Takoma Park and passes west of [Takoma Park Middle School](/source/Takoma_Park_Middle_School).<ref name="Maryland HLR"/><ref name="Maryland Grid Map"/>

MD 320 parallels the city limits to Mississippi Avenue, where the highway fully enters the [unincorporated area](/source/unincorporated_area) of Silver Spring. MD 320 intersects Sligo Avenue and Dale Drive, then descends into the valley of [Sligo Creek](/source/Sligo_Creek). The highway crosses the creek and intersects [Sligo Creek Parkway](/source/Sligo_Creek_Parkway) and the [Sligo Creek Trail](/source/Sligo_Creek_Trail). At the top of its climb out of the creek valley, MD 320 intersects Flower Avenue, which was formerly [MD 787](/source/Maryland_Route_787). The highway continues east as a four-lane road with a [center left-turn lane](/source/center_left-turn_lane), crossing Long Branch before intersecting [MD 193](/source/Maryland_Route_193) (University Boulevard). Beyond MD 193, MD 320 descends into the valley of [Northwest Branch](/source/Northwest_Branch_Anacostia_River). The highway meets the northern end of Carroll Avenue, which leads south to [MD 195](/source/Maryland_Route_195). MD 320 crosses the Montgomery&ndash;Prince George's County line and crosses Northwest Branch before it reaches its northern terminus at MD 650 ([New Hampshire Avenue](/source/New_Hampshire_Avenue)) in Adelphi.<ref name="Maryland HLR"/><ref name="Maryland Grid Map"/>

==History==
{{infobox road small
|state=MD
|type=MD
|route=513
|location=[Takoma Park](/source/Takoma_Park%2C_Maryland)
|length_mi=
|length_ref=
|length_round=2
|formed=1932
|deleted=1955
}}
MD 320 originally had its southern terminus at the intersection of US 29 and Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring. The highway followed Sligo Avenue east to Piney Branch Road, then followed Piney Branch Road northeast to Adelphi. MD 320 continued roughly along what is now New Hampshire Avenue to its northern terminus at US 29, which is now the intersection of MD 650 and Lockwood Drive in White Oak.<ref name="1939 map"/> The portion of this highway from modern US 29 to Carroll Avenue was paved by Montgomery County with state aid as a [macadam](/source/macadam) road by 1910.<ref name="1910 map"/><ref name="1921 map"/> Sligo Avenue was widened with a pair of {{convert|3|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} concrete shoulders in 1926.<ref name="1926 src report"/> MD 320 was extended north as a {{convert|18|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} macadam road from Carroll Avenue through Prince George's County to White Oak in 1931 and 1932.<ref name="1934 src report"/><ref name="1948 src report"/> The portion of MD 320 south of Sligo Avenue was built in two segments. The first segment, from the District of Columbia to Chestnut Avenue just south of MD 410, was a concrete reconstruction of Saratoga Avenue. The second segment, from Chestnut Avenue to Sligo Avenue, was a concrete road built on a new alignment.<ref name="1933 map"/> Both segments were constructed in 1931 and 1932 and were designated MD 513.<ref name="1939 map"/><ref name="1934 src report"/>

MD 513 was widened with a pair of {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} bituminous shoulders from MD 410 toward Sligo Avenue in 1942.<ref name="1942 src report"/> MD 320 was expanded to a width of {{convert|24|ft|m}} and resurfaced over its entire length in 1947 and 1948.<ref name="1948 src report"/><ref name="1950 src report"/> MD 320's bridge across Long Branch was widened in 1953 and 1954.<ref name="1954 src report"/> The highway's bridge across Northwest Branch at the MD 650 junction, which had originally been built in 1910, was widened in 1954 and 1955.<ref name="1956 src report"/><ref name="NBI Northwest Branch"/> MD 320 was placed on its present course in 1955; its northern end was truncated at MD 650.<ref name="1955 map"/> Its southern portion was moved from Sligo Avenue and replaced MD 513 through Takoma Park; Sligo Avenue was redesignated MD 339.<ref name="1955 map"/><ref name="USGS Washington West 1956"/> MD 339 was removed from the state highway system by 1999.<ref name="Maryland HLR 1999"/>

==Junction list==
{{jcttop|length_ref=<br><ref name="Maryland HLR"/>}}
{{MDint
|county=Montgomery
|cspan=4
|location=Takoma Park
|lspan=2
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=DC|road|[Eastern Avenue](/source/Eastern_Avenue_(Washington%2C_D.C.)) / Piney Branch Road south|location1=[Washington](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)}}
|notes=[District of Columbia](/source/District_of_Columbia) boundary; southern terminus 
}}
{{MDint
|mile=0.39
|road={{jct|state=MD|MD|410|name1=Philadelphia Avenue|city1=Hyattsville|city2=Silver Spring}}
}}
{{MDint
|location=Silver Spring
|lspan=2
|mile=1.43
|road=[Sligo Creek Parkway](/source/Sligo_Creek_Parkway)
}}
{{MDint
|mile=2.09
|road={{jct|state=MD|MD|193|name1=University Boulevard|city1=Wheaton|city2=Langley Park}}
}}
{{MDint
|county=Prince George's
|location=Adelphi
|mile=2.84
|road={{jct|state=MD|MD|650|name1=[New Hampshire Avenue](/source/New_Hampshire_Avenue)|city1=White Oak|city2=Langley Park}}
|notes=Northern terminus
}}
{{jctbtm}}

==See also==
*{{Portal-inline|Maryland Roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="Maryland HLR">{{Maryland HLR|year=2013|county1=Montgomery|county2=Prince George's|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="Maryland Grid Map">{{cite map|author=Staff|publisher=Maryland State Highway Administration|title=Maryland General Highway Statewide Grid Map|edition=2013|section=F11A|url=http://www.roads.maryland.gov/Index.aspx?PageId=790|format=PDF|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1939 map">{{Maryland road map|year=1939}}</ref>

<ref name="1910 map">{{Maryland road map|year=1910}}</ref>

<ref name="1921 map">{{Maryland road map|year=1921}}</ref>

<ref name="1926 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1926|pages=42, 90|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1934 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1934|pages=344&ndash;345|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1948 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1948|pages=19&ndash;20, 114|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1933 map">{{Maryland road map|year=1933}}</ref>

<ref name="1942 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1942|page=58|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1950 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1950|page=37|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1954 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1954|page=166|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1956 src report">{{Maryland SRC report|year=1956|page=152|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="NBI Northwest Branch">{{NBI|structurenumber=100000160065010|datakey=274986|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

<ref name="1955 map">{{Maryland road map|year=1955}}</ref>

<ref name="USGS Washington West 1956">{{cite map|publisher=United States Geological Survey|title=Washington West, DC quadrangle|edition=1956|scale=1:24,000|series=7 1/2 Minute Series (Topographic)}}</ref>

<ref name="Maryland HLR 1999">{{Maryland HLR|year=1999|county1=Montgomery|accessdate=2014-01-09}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.mdroads.com/routes/320-339.html#md320 MDRoads: MD 320]

320
Maryland Route 320
Maryland Route 320

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maryland Route 320](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Route_320) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Route_320?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.