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Maryland Route 197 (MD 197) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Laurel Bowie Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 301 (US 301) in Bowie north to MD 198 in Laurel. MD 197 serves as the main connection between Bowie and Laurel in northern Prince George's County. The highway also provides access to Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Bowie State University. MD 197 also connects US 50 in Bowie and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway in South Laurel with the Bowie State MARC station. MD 197 was constructed from what is now MD 450 in Bowie to US 1 in Laurel between the mid-1920s and early 1930s. The highway was extended south to US 301 in the mid-1950s. MD 197's northern terminus was relocated in the mid-1960s. The portion through Laurel and South Laurel was expanded to a divided highway in the mid-1970s. MD 197 was relocated from its original course through Old Town Bowie to its present course near Bowie State University in the late 1980s; much of this segment was built as divided highway. The highway's southern end was expanded to a divided highway concurrent with the expansion of the US 50 interchange. MD 197's 1950s-era interchange with the Baltimore–Washington Parkway was reconstructed in the early 2000s. ==Route description== MD 197 begins at an intersection with US 301 (Robert Crain Highway) in Bowie. The state highway heads northwest as Collington Road, a four-lane divided highway that expands to six lanes at Mitchellville Road. The highway passes by Bowie Town Center and meets US 50 (John Hanson Highway), which runs concurrently with unsigned Interstate 595, at a partial cloverleaf interchange. Beyond US 50, MD 197 turns north and reduces to a two-lane road. After passing Tulip Grove Drive, which leads to the Belair Mansion and Belair Stable Museum, the highway reaches Old Annapolis Road, which is unsigned MD 450B. MD 197 continues as Laurel Bowie Road and expands to a four-lane divided highway ahead of its intersection with MD 450 (Annapolis Road).〔〔 MD 197 continues north as a four-lane road with center turn lane. The route becomes a divided highway just south of its underpass of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail and its bridge across Horsepen Branch. MD 197 intersects Race Track Road, named for the defunct Bowie Race Track to the east; Race Track Road leads west to MD 564 and Old Town Bowie. MD 197 turns northwest and passes Jericho Park Road, which is unsigned MD 197C and provides access to Bowie State University and the Bowie State MARC station. After crossing the Amtrak Northeast Corridor and MARC's Penn Line and passing the Don S. S. Goodloe House, the state highway reduces to two lanes. MD 197 meets the northern end of Old Laurel Bowie Road and enters the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. The highway passes the entrances to several research facilities of the wildlife refuge as well as the historic home Snowden Hall.〔〔 Northwest of Powder Mill Road, which leads to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, MD 197 leaves the wildlife refuge and enters South Laurel. The state highway expands to a four-lane divided highway ahead of its partial cloverleaf interchange with the Baltimore–Washington Parkway. The two directions of MD 197 temporarily split with a wide median through the interchange, which features a flyover ramp from the northbound parkway to northbound MD 197. After the median closes, the highway expands to three lanes southbound. The state highway meets the eastern end of Muirkirk Road then passes between Patuxent River Park on the east and the grounds of Montpelier Mansion on the west. The highway intersects Contee Road and passes the historic estate Snow Hill. MD 197 crosses Crow Branch and gains a third lane northbound just south of its junction with Cherry Lane. As the state highway bears to the northeast, Bowie Road splits to the north and the southbound direction drops to two lanes. MD 197 crosses Bear Branch and enters the city limits of Laurel before it reaches its northern terminus at MD 198 (Fort Meade Road).〔〔 MD 197 is a part of the National Highway System as a principal arterial for its entire length. The highway is an intermodal connector between US 50 and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway. The remaining portions of MD 197 south of US 50 and north of the parkway are National Highway System principal arterials.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Maryland Route 197」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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