Delays Expected During Closure between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.; Motorists Advised to Plan for Extra Travel Time Between Pikesville and Towson along Eastbound I-695

(September 8, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) today announced temporary overnight closures along eastbound (inner loop) I-695 at the Charles Street Bridge in Baltimore County. 

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, September 9, SHA will have double lane closures along eastbound I-695 (Inner Loop) at the Charles Street interchange.  All inner loop lanes will be closed beginning at 11 p.m. and will open by 5 a.m. Thursday morning.  An identical closure will take place Thursday night, September 10 into Friday morning, September 11.  The lane closures are weather permitting and are needed to allow crews to continue work on the new Charles Street Bridge.

During the closure, motorists along the I-695 inner loop as well as the southbound I-83 ramp to eastbound I-695 will be detoured onto Charles Street.  The traffic signal at the top of the southbound I-83 ramp to Charles Street will be re-timed to provide detoured motorists adequate time to travel across the Charles Street Bridge and back to eastbound I-695.

The Charles Street Bridge over I-695 remains open to traffic during construction; however, SHA has reduced the number of travel lanes on the bridge to one lane southbound and two lanes northbound to enhance safety for travelers and construction crews.  The speed limit along I-695 is 50 mph in the work zone between Exit 26, MD 45 (York Road) and Exit 24, I-83 North.

Please buckle up, obey posted work zone speed limits, “think orange,” and stay alert in the work zone.  Motorists can learn more about Maryland’s highway safety program by logging onto www.choosesafetyforlife.com.

Citizens who have questions about traffic operations along I-695 and Charles Street may call the project field office at 410-296-9041 or SHA’s District 4 Office at 410-321-2800 or toll free at  1-800-962-3077.  Citizens may view the I-695/Charles Street project web page on SHA’s website, www.marylandroads.com.  Click “Current Construction Projects” on the home page menu to reach the SHA Projects Page.

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