(May 3, 2012) – In an ongoing effort to improve work zone safety, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) today announced the addition of the I-795 (Northwest Expressway) highway repair and resurfacing project into the Maryland SafeZones program.
Maryland SafeZones automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras will be deployed on I-795 between I-695 and Owings Mills Boulevard beginning Friday, May 4. A 21-day warning period will continue through May 29 and citations will be issued starting May 30. The posted speed along I-795 is 60 mph and will not be reduced in the work zone. Drivers excessively speeding by 12 or miles over the speed limit, or 72 mph or more, face a $40 civil citation.
“Work zones present dangerous conditions and challenges that require concentration and slower speeds,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Traditional police enforcement is not viable in work zones and where deployed, SafeZones has reduced speeding by 70 percent. Considering four out of five people injured or killed in work zone crashes are vehicle occupants, not workers, it benefits everyone to obey speed limits.”
SHA is repairing and resurfacing concrete pavement on I-795 between I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) and Owings Mills Boulevard (MD 940). SHA will upgrade traffic barriers, repair storm drain systems, resurface ramps at the Owings Mills Boulevard interchange and install new pavement markings. The $9.2 million investment supports approximately 100 jobs and will be complete fall 2013, weather permitting.
Maryland SafeZones joins SHA, Maryland State Police (MSP) and Maryland Transportation Authority Police (MdTA) in the statewide effort to improve highway safety. Mobile enforcement vehicles rotate among eligible work zones in controlled access highways with a 45 mph or more speed limits. Large signs are in place in advance of the work zones to alert drivers of automated speed enforcement use. Crews also place a “speed trailer” to display the posted speed limit and drivers’ speeds in advance of the enforcement vehicle.
ASE is currently deployed at five work zones in Baltimore County: I-695 at the MD 139 (Charles Street) interchange; the MD 26 (Liberty Road) interchange; the Wilkens Avenue and Frederick Road interchanges, and at the Maryland Transportation Authority’s work zone on I-95 between White Marsh and I-895. There are 10 work zones in Maryland actively using the automated speed enforcement technology.
Four out of every five people injured or killed in work zone crashes are drivers or passengers, not workers. Even when workers are not present, work zones can be dangerous due to reduced lane width, barrier walls, uneven pavement and modified signage placement. On average, 12 people are killed per year and approximately 1,500 people injured in crashes in work zones in Maryland.
For more information on SHA’s I-795 project, visit “Regional Information and Districts” on the SHA website,
www.roads.maryland.gov. Customers who would like more information about highway construction projects along State-maintained roadways within Baltimore County may contact SHA’s District 4 Office at 410-321-2420 or toll free at 1-800-962-3077. For more information on Maryland SafeZones, log onto
www.safezones.maryland.gov.
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 and 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.
Maryland now features FREE 511 traveler information! Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit
www.md511.org for current travel information. Sign up to personalize travel route information through MY511 on the website. Remember to use 511 safely - Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.
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