Motorists Advised to Plan for Extra Travel Time Beginning December 21 and Stay Alert for New Traffic Patterns
 

(December 11, 2009) – On or about 8 p.m. Sunday night, December 20, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will install a long-term temporary split of the lanes along eastbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop) between Exit 24, the I-83 North Interchange, and Exit 25, the MD 139 (Charles Street) Interchange, weather permitting. 

Crews will begin shifting traffic using concrete barriers and signs along eastbound I-695 to create the new traffic pattern.  The right lane of I-695 and the ramp from eastbound I-695 to Charles Street will be temporarily closed.  Motorists wishing to reach Charles Street that night will be diverted to Exit 26, the York Road interchange, to westbound I-695 and back to the Charles Street interchange. 

On Monday morning, December 21, SHA will re-open the three lanes on eastbound I-695, which will be split with concrete barriers separating the right lane from the center and left lanes.  All lanes will be through lanes; however, motorists going from eastbound I-695 to Exit 25, MD 139 (Charles Street Interchange) must stay in the right lane to reach the exit ramp.  In case of inclement weather, the traffic shift will take place on the next night possible (December 21 or 22) before the Christmas holiday. 

This traffic lane split is necessary for Phase Two of demolition and construction work on the I-695 bridge over the Light Rail tracks, originally built in 1954 and widened in 1969.  SHA is rehabilitating the deck (riding surface) of this bridge as part of the $38 million I-695/Charles Street Interchange project.  The bridge deck project is being done in three phases to allow all six lanes of the I-695 bridge over Light Rail to remain open to traffic during bridge rehabilitation work.  During this phase, which begins the first week of January, crews will remove concrete from a section of the eastbound deck (riding surface) and replace it with new concrete.      

SHA will use traffic signs and barriers to guide motorists through the work zone.  The State’s contractor for the entire I-695/Charles Street Interchange project is the Six-M Company of Delta, Pa.  The traffic split will be in effect until spring 2010, weather permitting.

For more information about highway construction activities along I-695, citizens may contact SHA’s District Four Office at 410-229-2300, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or by email at shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us.

SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through highway work zones by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times.  Learn more about work zone safety and Maryland’s Choose Safety for Life campaign at www.choosesafetyforlife.com. 

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