Maryland Route 135
The Maryland State Highway Administration has instituted many measures to get trucks down the mountain safely and to avoid the downgrade if possible.Oakland Drive, which is unsigned MD 825B, splits to the northeast to serve residential areas on the north side of town.The state highway intersects MD 560 (Paull Street), which heads south into Loch Lynn Heights.The state highway passes the historic home Glamorgan and Edgewood Drive, part of the old alignment of MD 38, before leaving Deer Park.Upon leaving the state forest, MD 135 begins to pass scattered residences ahead of the descent of Backbone Mountain, which has grades as steep as 9%.The state highway immediately intersects Masteller Road, which is unsigned MD 135D and meets the eastern end of the western segment of West Virginia Route 46 (WV 46) at the North Branch Potomac River.At a bend in the river, MD 135 makes a sharp turn to the north around the mountain and the road passes the large NewPage Corporation paper mill.MD 135 parallels the North Branch Potomac River and Georges Creek Railway as it passes scattered residences and businesses.MD 135 itself continues east under the McCoole–Keyser bridge to its eastern terminus at the intersection of Queens Point Road and Golden Cross Street.After five people had been killed on the descent by 1965, the State Roads Commission responded in 1967 by enacting the truck speed limit of 10 mph (16 km/h), marking the three mandatory stopping areas, and installing ample warning signage, including the infamous "If Brakes Fail Ditch Truck Immediately" sign.
Mountain Maryland Scenic BywayUS 219OaklandMD 560Loch Lynn HeightsMD 495AltamontKitzmillerWesternportUS 220McCooleUnited StatesMarylandGarrettAlleganyMaryland highway systemInterstateScenic BywaysMD 134MD 136state highwayU.S. stateU.S. Route 219Garrett CountyUS 220Allegany CountyMountain Lake ParkDeer ParkAppalachian PlateauBloomingtonNorth Branch Potomac RiverBackbone MountainSwantonMaryland State Highway AdministrationMD 219partial control of accessMD 825BPennington CottageGlamorganMountain SubdivisionEastern Continental Dividescenic overlookPotomac-Garrett State ForestJennings Randolph Lakegradesrunaway truck rampSavage RiverWest Virginia Route 46NewPage CorporationGeorges CreekGeorges Creek RailwayMD 937KeyserInterstate 68Red HouseThomas, WVGormanBittingerWV 46LonaconingFrostburgPiedmont, WVCumberlandKeyser, WVunsignedsalt domeGoogle MapsMaryland State Roads Commission