(November 8, 2012) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) has reached a milestone in its $13 million major construction project to replace the I-695 North (Baltimore Beltway inner loop) Bridge over Wilkens Avenue (MD 372) in southwestern Baltimore County.  Crews have completed the first half of the new bridge and are ready to switch traffic along the inner loop to continue construction progress. 

As SHA’s contractor begins the next phase of construction, crews will shift all lanes of traffic on the inner loop of I-695 onto the first half of the new bridge, requiring temporary lane closures and a late-night total road closure at the Wilkens Avenue interchange. The outer loop lanes of I-695 will operate normally during the inner loop traffic switch.  The schedule of lane closures is as follows:

Sunday, November 11

9 p.m.: Left lane closed on the inner loop of I-695

10 p.m.: Two left lanes closed on inner loop of I-695

11 p.m.: All lanes closed on the inner loop of I-695 overnight

The Maryland State Police (MSP) will control traffic on I-695 and Wilkens Avenue during the traffic shift Sunday night.  MSP will detour all traffic through the Wilkens Avenue interchange, onto Kenwood Avenue and back onto the inner loop of I-695.   

All lanes on the inner loop of I-695 will be open by 5 a.m. on Monday, November 12.  In case of inclement weather, the overnight lane closures, total road closure and detour will take place Monday night, November 12  or the next possible weeknight.  Once the traffic shift has taken place, crews will demolish the original inner loop I-695 Bridge over Wilkens Avenue.  Weather permitting, the interchange reconstruction project will be complete by summer 2013. 

Citizens who have questions about I-695 or any other State highway in Baltimore County may contact SHA’s District 4 Office at 410-229-2420, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or by e-mail at: shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us. 

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 Web site. Remember to use 511 safely – Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.  Follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.

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