In the early 1960s, the disjoint northern segment of the highway was transferred to the county and the highway's present southern terminus was established when MD 279 moved to a new alignment north of Elkton in the early 1960s.
During the 1960s, a section of the highway was handed over to the county, and its current southern endpoint was set when MD 279 relocated to a new route north of Elkton during that decade.