Many years ago, compiling lists of state highway routes was what the cool kids highway enthusiasts road scholars road geeks were doing. They weren’t too sophisticated for the most part, although there were standouts like kurumi.com which is still gettin’ it done. As a joke, I contributed by going with the District of Columbia and it’s one “state” highway, DC 295.
D.C. Route Log
DC 295 is a continuation of Interstate 295 along Kenilworth Ave. between the 11th Street Bridge (now posted as I-695) and the D.C./Maryland border. Once it Maryland, it briefly becomes MD 201 until that exits the highway before the Baltimore/Washington Parkway merge. North of MD 175 in Howard County, MD 295 begins.
DC 295 shouldn’t be the only one
Whether by deliberate policy or benign neglect, numbered highways are not well-posted through the District of Columbia. Relying on posted signs to travel along anything other than I-395 is probably going to be confusing. Even I-295 is poorly signed. The US routes, 1, 29 and even 50 are sporadically posted.
In a more perfect world, DC would better mark the numbered highways, through routes, through the city. They’d also increase the numbered routes based on the numbered state routes that enter the District. Here’s a list I’d like to see:
4 For PA Ave east of the Capitol, it would be an extension of MD 4.
At one time, there was a posted route 4 (and 5 apparently) with a US style shield:
Steve Anderson writes:
>From Robert Droz’s posting in misc.transport.road:
On a related note, I found another reference to
DC 4&5. It is in “Color Guidebook to Washington” The cover is marked
July 5, 1957. It is on Pennsylvania SE of the US Capitol. The centerfold
map also shows US 211 with US 29 on M St.
5 Branch Ave, from PA Ave (DC 4) into MD.
97 Georgia Ave, Making 97 enter DC-MD-PA. Would have to change US 29 to 16th Street again or multiplexed.
123 This is the best candidate from VA, just about the only one really. Would enter from Chain Br. and then follow Canal Road to M Street. Then it could be signed along PA Ave to K Street and end at US 29.
185 Conneticut Ave, from MD to K St (US 29)
190 River Rd, from MD to Conn. Ave. (DC 185)
210 South Capitol Street, extension of MD 210.
212 Riggs Rd then down North Capitol Street.
214 East Capitol Street. Interesting that all of the Capitol Streets, would be similar numbers.
218 Suitland Rd from MD to DC 5
332 Central Ave from MD, to East Capitol St.
355 Wisconsin Ave, from MD to M Street NW.
390 16th Street from MD to K Street just north of the White House.
396 Mass. Ave, from MD to 9th Street (US 1 & 50)
450 Instead of US 1 ALT for Bladensburg Rd. This of course would be coming from MD.
500 Michigan Ave, from MD to North Capitol Street (DC 212)
637 Naylor Rd, from MD to PA Ave (DC 4)
704 63rd Street, would be very short, a continuation of MD 704
Will any of this happen? Probably not.