The original MD 157 was Chapel Road from MD 462 near Webster to Havre de Grace in Harford County, which was removed from the state highway system in 1956. Meritt Boulevard was constructed as a four-lane divided highway from North Point Road, which was then part of MD 20, to the center of Dundalk in 1960. Peninsula Expressway was built from the center of Dundalk to Sparrows Point, including a new bridge over Bear Creek, in 1960 and 1961. Like the pre-existing drawbridge to the west that carried Dundalk Avenue over Bear Creek, the Peninsula Expressway bridge carried a toll from its completion through 1977. The Dundalk Avenue bridge was removed around 1985.