Maryland Route 589


Maryland Route 589 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Racetrack Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 50 at Grays Corner north to US 113 and MD 575 in Showell. MD 589 provides access to the planned community of Ocean Pines and Ocean Downs, a harness racing venue with a casino. The first portion of the state highway was constructed through Showell in 1935. MD 589 was completed to US 50 in 1949 and 1950.

Route description

MD 589 begins at an intersection with US 50 at Grays Corner. The state highway immediately encounters MD 707 ; the highway is officially MD 707B to the west and MD 707E to the east of the intersection. MD 589 heads north as a three-lane undivided road with one lane northbound and two lanes southbound. After passing Ocean Downs, the southbound direction reduces to one lane. MD 589 crosses Taylorville Creek and passes through the hamlet of Taylorville. The state highway enters a commercial area and intersects Manklin Creek Road, which is the main access to Ocean Pines. MD 589 curves northwest, then expands to a three-lane road with center turn lane before passing another entrance to the Ocean Pines development and meeting MD 90 at a diamond interchange.
MD 589 returns to two lanes after passing Ocean Parkway, the main arterial through Ocean Pines. The state highway continues west to its junction with US 113 and MD 575, both named Worcester Highway, in Showell. The first intersection features a ramp to US 113 north and sees MD 575 head south; the ramp from US 113 north intersects MD 575 a short distance to the south. After passing under US 113, MD 589 reaches its northern terminus at West Frontage Road, which is unsigned MD 575A. Ramps from and to US 113 south are located at the northern and southern ends of MD 575A, respectively.

History

The first section of MD 589 was constructed between US 113 and Beauchamp Road in 1935. The state highway was extended south and east to US 50 in two segments. The first segment, from Beauchamp Road to north of Taylorville, was constructed in 1949. The remainder of MD 589 to US 50 was completed in 1950. The northern end of the highway was realigned in 2000 to accommodate the expansion of US 113 through the area. MD 589's interchange with US 113 was completed in 2002.

Junction list