Interstate 270

Maryland

Interstate 270 is a connector highway that travels between the junction with Interstate 70 in Frederick, Maryland and Interstate 495 (the Capital Beltway) just north of Bethesda, Maryland. I-270 also travels through the cities of Germantown, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, Maryland. The entire length of I-270 is 34.4 miles. Between Montrose Road and Shady Grove Road, I-270 is twelve lanes; each direction has a four-lane express roadway (including an HOV lane) and a two-lane local roadway.

Interstate 270 divides into two six-lane, bidirectional branches about 2 miles north of its junction with the beltway. For southbound traffic, the eastern (main) branch merges with the inner loop of the Beltway at exit 35, and the western (spur) branch merges with the outer loop at exit 38.

Under the original interstate numbering system, I-270 was designated I-70S, and the western spur was designated I-270. When I-70S was redesignated I-270, the western spur was known for a short time as Interstate 470, at least on a 1975 Virginia Department of Transportation map, but is now known simply as Interstate 270 Spur.

Ohio

Interstate 270 is the beltway loop freeway in the Columbus metropolitan area, commonly known locally as the outer belt. The "western" (and "eastern") terminus of I-270, at least in terms of the zero-milepost, is at the junction with Interstate 71 east of Grove City, Ohio. I-270, along with Interstate 670, provides access to Port Columbus International Airport. The entire length of I-270 is 54.97 miles. The highway was the subject of national media attention in late 2003 and early 2004 when a number of sniper shootings were reported along the southern portion of the interstate and other neighboring highways, resulting in the death of one person. Charles McCoy is accused of the shootings and will stand trial in 2005.

Major cities and suburbs

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