(April 11, 2011)  –  The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close and detour all lanes of westbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Outer Loop) at Exit 25 (MD 139- Charles Street) weeknights beginning this week, weather permitting. The temporary overnight road closures and detours will allow crews to safely set structural steel beams in place over westbound and eastbound I-695 for the new Charles Street Bridge.  

The weeknight closures will begin tomorrow night (Tuesday April 12) and continue for approximately three weeks, weather permitting.  During the overnight road closures all traffic on westbound I-695 will be diverted from I-695 at Exit 25, through the Charles Street Interchange and the Charles Street/Bellona Avenue roundabout, and back onto westbound I-695 prior to Exit 24 (I-83 North - Baltimore-Harrisburg Expressway). 

Crews may close up to two lanes along eastbound I-695 (Inner Loop); the right-turn loop ramp from northbound Charles Street to the Outer Loop will be closed to prohibit motorists from entering the work zone under the bridge.  Motorists traveling from northbound Charles Street to westbound I-695 will be directed to bear left and use the Charles Street/Bellona Avenue roundabout to enter westbound I-695 west of the Charles Street bridge.

Lane and Detour Schedule (Sunday – Thursday nights)

8 p.m.   I-695 Westbound - Single left lane closure
   I-695 Eastbound - Single left lane closure

10 p.m.  I-695 Westbound - Double left lane closure
   I-695 Eastbound - Double left lane closure Ramp from Charles Street Northbound to I-695 Westbound closed and detoured through roundabout

11 p.m. – 5 a.m.I-695 Westbound – Closed and detoured through roundabout
   I-695 Eastbound – Double left lane closure Ramp from Charles Street Northbound to I-695 Westbound closed and detoured through roundabout 
 

There will be no construction related temporary lane or ramp closures or detours along I-695 or Charles Street between 5 a.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

The structural steel beam work is part of SHA’s $43.6 million Charles Street Interchange project, which began winter 2009 and will be complete summer 2012, weather permitting.  The State’s contractor for the I-695/Charles Street Interchange project is the Six-M Company of Delta, Pa.

The Charles Street Interchange construction work zone is one of five locations under Maryland’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program.  Construction season is here with numerous active work zone sites that include major construction projects taking months to complete and mobile operations taking only minutes.  While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert - look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don't follow too closely.  Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones.  For everyone.

Those who have questions about the Charles Street Interchange project may contact SHA’s project field office at 410-296-9041, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or by email at shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us.  For more information about the Charles Street Interchange project, citizens may view lane closure updates, interchange diagrams, and other information on the SHA project web page on www.roads.maryland.gov under “Projects & Studies.” 

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