Benning Road

Benning Road is a major traveled street in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland.

The street's western terminus is at the "Starburst intersection" in the northeast quadrant of the city at Bladensburg Road, Florida Avenue, Maryland Avenue, H Street and 15th Street. It passed over the Anacostia River via the Benning Bridge into the neighborhood of Benning. It continues southeast across East Capitol Street into the southeast quadrant, crossing Southern Avenue and the D.C.-Maryland boundary into Maryland, ending at an intersection with Marlboro Pike (a former alignment of Maryland Route 4).

History

In the late 18th century, "Captain" William Benning came from Virginia and purchased 330 acres (1.3 km²) in the area. Around 1830 (though not all sources agree on the date), he built the Benning Bridge as a toll bridge, one of the earliest crossings over the Anacostia River. "Benning's Road" appears on maps as far back as 1861, and with the bridge was an important eastern route in and out of the District. An 1886 U.S. Geological Survey map shows Benning's Road ending at "Bowen Road", which was later named Marlboro Pike in Maryland (and routed as Maryland Route 4 through about 1960).

In 2009 work commenced on a $38 million improvement project for the road which included adding streetcar tracks. The DC Streetcar line was anticipated to open in 2014, but has since been pushed back further into 2015.

A Metro station was opened at the intersection of Benning Road and East Capitol Street in 1980 but this is not within easy walking distance of the local facilities as the neighborhood has a suburban style with access mainly by automobile.