Construction on the US 340 freeway from Jefferson toward Frederick began in 1966. US 340's interchanges with I-70 and MD 180 were completed in 1968 and the portion of the freeway from Jefferson east to the MD 180 interchange opened in 1969. At that time, MD 180 was extended east through Jefferson to the US 340 interchange in Frederick, which also served the northern end of MD 78. MD 180 was extended south over the length of MD 78 (Ballenger Creek Pike) toward Adamstown in 1970, forming a cane-shaped route. MD 180 was retracted to the US 340 interchange in 1989 when MD 351 was assigned to what had been MD 78. That same year, Keep Tryst Road was removed from the state highway system, leaving behind the stub that is current MD 180A. In 2002, MD 180 was extended east along Ballenger Creek Pike to Ballenger Center Parkway at the same time MD 351 was temporarily transferred to county maintenance south of its ramp to eastbound I-70.