Joppa Road
Encyclopedia
Joppa Road is a road that runs across the northern suburbs of Baltimore
, mostly parallel to the Baltimore Beltway. Joppa Road today is used by motorists as an alternative to congested
I-695 traffic, which often causes the road to become congested itself.
Joppa Road starts in the west near the northern end of the Jones Falls Expressway, where this highway intersects with Falls Road
. This section, known as West Joppa Road, continues to the center of Towson
, is two lanes wide, and is lined with upscale housing.
Joppa Road continues through the center of Towson
. However, this section is very narrow, and is partly one way in a westbound direction. In this area, use of Joppa Road as a through street is discouraged, and most through traffic
is diverted onto Allegheny Avenue.
After the Towson Circle, which consists of the intersection of York Road
, Dulaney Valley Road
, and Joppa, the next section is known as East Joppa Road. This road is at least 4-5 lanes wide in all areas, and is mostly lined with commercial development. The end of this section is at Belair Road in Perry Hall
, but continuing in a straight direction past this intersection will bring the motorist onto Ebenezer Road. A left and an immediate right at Belair will allow the motorist to continue onto the next section of East Joppa Road.
In 1810, Joppa Road became the Baltimore-York Turnpike.
Joppa Road also served as a connection between Riderwood and Joppa
.
The name "Joppa Road" came from the fact that the road linked Towson and Perry Hall to Joppa
, the former county seat
.
The portion of East Joppa Road from York Road in Towson east to Belair Road was designated Maryland Route 148 until 1962. Joppa Road's removal from the Maryland State Highway system reflected the partial completion of the Baltimore Beltway (Maryland Interstate Route 695) during that year. At the time, there existed in Maryland an effort to keep the total mileage of state-maintained roads in a given county fixed. Because the Beltway represented a significant addition state-maintained highway mileage in Baltimore County, and because Joppa Road more or less paralleled the northern part of the new roadway, Baltimore County agreed to assume control of Joppa Road in 1962, thereby ending the road's state designation.
Joppa Road does not intersect with Charles Street
, but rather passes over. Charles Street is accessible from Joppa Road via Bellona Avenue in either direction.
West Joppa Road
East Joppa Road
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, mostly parallel to the Baltimore Beltway. Joppa Road today is used by motorists as an alternative to congested
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
I-695 traffic, which often causes the road to become congested itself.
Joppa Road starts in the west near the northern end of the Jones Falls Expressway, where this highway intersects with Falls Road
Maryland Route 25
Maryland Route 25 , locally known for nearly its entire length as Falls Road, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. It begins north of downtown Baltimore, just north of Penn Station, and continues north through Baltimore County almost to the Pennsylvania state line...
. This section, known as West Joppa Road, continues to the center of Towson
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
, is two lanes wide, and is lined with upscale housing.
Joppa Road continues through the center of Towson
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
. However, this section is very narrow, and is partly one way in a westbound direction. In this area, use of Joppa Road as a through street is discouraged, and most through traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
is diverted onto Allegheny Avenue.
After the Towson Circle, which consists of the intersection of York Road
Maryland Route 45
Maryland Route 45 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as York Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to the Pennsylvania state line in Maryland Line, where the highway continues as SR 3001...
, Dulaney Valley Road
Maryland Route 146
Maryland Route 146 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 45 in Towson north to MD 23 near Jarrettsville. MD 146 connects Towson with Loch Raven Reservoir, an impoundment of Gunpowder Falls. The state highway also serves the northern Baltimore County...
, and Joppa, the next section is known as East Joppa Road. This road is at least 4-5 lanes wide in all areas, and is mostly lined with commercial development. The end of this section is at Belair Road in Perry Hall
Perry Hall, Maryland
Perry Hall is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 28,705 at the 2000 census...
, but continuing in a straight direction past this intersection will bring the motorist onto Ebenezer Road. A left and an immediate right at Belair will allow the motorist to continue onto the next section of East Joppa Road.
History
Joppa Road was originally an Indian trail and was still used as such as late as 1697.In 1810, Joppa Road became the Baltimore-York Turnpike.
Joppa Road also served as a connection between Riderwood and Joppa
Joppa, Maryland
Joppa, Maryland in Harford County, Maryland is now a planning region for the county, but there was originally a town at the center called Joppa. Joppa was founded as a British colonial settlement in the early 18th century, and takes its name from the biblical town of Joppa .The town of Joppa on...
.
The name "Joppa Road" came from the fact that the road linked Towson and Perry Hall to Joppa
Joppa, Maryland
Joppa, Maryland in Harford County, Maryland is now a planning region for the county, but there was originally a town at the center called Joppa. Joppa was founded as a British colonial settlement in the early 18th century, and takes its name from the biblical town of Joppa .The town of Joppa on...
, the former county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
.
The portion of East Joppa Road from York Road in Towson east to Belair Road was designated Maryland Route 148 until 1962. Joppa Road's removal from the Maryland State Highway system reflected the partial completion of the Baltimore Beltway (Maryland Interstate Route 695) during that year. At the time, there existed in Maryland an effort to keep the total mileage of state-maintained roads in a given county fixed. Because the Beltway represented a significant addition state-maintained highway mileage in Baltimore County, and because Joppa Road more or less paralleled the northern part of the new roadway, Baltimore County agreed to assume control of Joppa Road in 1962, thereby ending the road's state designation.
Junction list
Joppa Road intersects with the following major streets and roads:- Falls RoadMaryland Route 25Maryland Route 25 , locally known for nearly its entire length as Falls Road, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. It begins north of downtown Baltimore, just north of Penn Station, and continues north through Baltimore County almost to the Pennsylvania state line...
- Bellona AvenueMaryland Route 134Maryland Route 134 is the state highway designation for a portion of Bellona Avenue in Baltimore City and County within the U.S. state of Maryland. Bellona Avenue begins at York Road in Baltimore City and passes through Rodgers Forge in Towson before it reaches Charles Street...
- York RoadMaryland Route 45Maryland Route 45 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as York Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to the Pennsylvania state line in Maryland Line, where the highway continues as SR 3001...
- Dulaney Valley RoadMaryland Route 146Maryland Route 146 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 45 in Towson north to MD 23 near Jarrettsville. MD 146 connects Towson with Loch Raven Reservoir, an impoundment of Gunpowder Falls. The state highway also serves the northern Baltimore County...
- Loch Raven BoulevardMaryland Route 542Maryland Route 542 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Loch Raven Boulevard, the state highway runs from MD 147 in Baltimore north to Interstate 695 and Cromwell Bridge Road near Towson. MD 542 is a four-lane divided highway that connects portions...
- Perring ParkwayMaryland Route 41Maryland Route 41 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Perring Parkway, the state highway runs from MD 147 in Baltimore north to Waltham Woods Road in Carney. MD 41 is a four- to six-lane divided highway that connects portions of Northeast Baltimore,...
- Old Harford RoadOld Harford RoadOld Harford Road, one of the oldest continuously-used rights-of-way in central Maryland, United States, is a southwest-northeast thoroughfare in northeast Baltimore and eastern Baltimore County....
- Harford RoadMaryland Route 147Maryland Route 147 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Harford Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to US 1 and US 1 Business in Benson. MD 147 is an alternate route to US 1 between Baltimore and Bel Air, the county seat of Harford County...
- Belair Road
Joppa Road does not intersect with Charles Street
Maryland Route 139
Maryland Route 139, known locally for most of its existence as North Charles Street, runs through Baltimore City and through the Towson area of Baltimore County. On the north end it terminates at a traffic circle with Bellona Avenue near Interstate 695 and at the south end it terminates in Federal...
, but rather passes over. Charles Street is accessible from Joppa Road via Bellona Avenue in either direction.
Points of interest
The following notable points can be found along Joppa Road:West Joppa Road
- Greenspring Station
- Blakehurst Assisted Living
East Joppa Road
- Towson Town CenterTowson Town CenterTowson Town Center is a large indoor shopping mall located in Towson, Maryland. It was the largest indoor shopping mall in Maryland prior to the completion of Arundel Mills in late 2000 in Hanover and the 2007 expansion of the Annapolis Mall.- History :...
- Towson Marketplace
- Perring Plaza
- AnalySYS
In popular culture
- The rock band WeenWeenWeen is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
featured a song called "Joppa Road" on their 1994 album Chocolate and CheeseChocolate and CheeseChocolate and Cheese is Ween's fourth studio album, originally released by Elektra Records in 1994. It was the first Ween album to eschew the crude four-track home recordings of their first three albums and utilize a professional recording studio...
.