Maryland Route 354

Maryland Route 354 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 12 near Snow Hill north to MD 346 in Willards. MD 354 parallels the Pocomoke River, connecting eastern Wicomico County and northwestern Worcester with Snow Hill. The state highway was first constructed from Willards in the mid-1910s. The remainder of MD 354 was completed in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with little change in the highway since.

Route description

MD 354 begins at an intersection with MD 12 in the hamlet of Indiantown north of the town of Snow Hill. Nassawango Road heads southwest from the junction toward Pocomoke State Forest. MD 354 heads north as Whiton Road, a two-lane undivided road that passes through farmland and parallels the Pocomoke River at a distance. The state highway crosses Tilghman Race before passing through the hamlet of Whiton and entering Wicomico County, where the name of the highway changes to Powellville Road. In Powellville, MD 354 intersects the western terminus of MD 374 at an acute angle and the eastern terminus of MD 350 at a right angle before crossing Adkins Mill Pond. After passing through more farmland, the state highway enters the town of Willards and intersects U.S. Route 50. MD 354 continues north to its terminus at MD 346, where Main Street continues north into the center of Willards.

History

The first section of the highway that was to become MD 354 was paved from the Pennsylvania Railroad crossing on the north side of Willards south to Friendship Road north of Powellville in 1917. The pavement was extended south to Powellville by 1921. Paving began from Indiantown toward Whiton by 1927. MD 354 was completed south to Whiton in 1930. The gap south of Whiton was filled in 1933, completing the highway. The state highway between Powellville and Willards was widened in 1956, the same year the northern end was rolled back from the railroad crossing in Willards to US 50.