(February 2, 2010) – Those traveling through the I-695/Charles Street interchange improvements will see a major traffic change begin this week as work progresses on the bridge replacement. 

 

On or about 8 p.m. Thursday night, February 4, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will institute a long-term closure of the left-turn ramp from southbound MD 139 (Charles Street) to eastbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop), weather permitting. 

 

On Friday morning, February 5, motorists approaching the Charles Street Interchange from Lutherville will be directed to use the official ramp detour route: north/eastbound Bellona Avenue to southbound MD 45 (York Road) to the York Road Interchange ramp to eastbound I-695. 

 

Temporary traffic signs will guide motorists through the official detour route, which will remain in effect until early fall.  The right-turn ramp from northbound Charles Street to eastbound I-695 will remain open. 

 

Also on the night of February 4, SHA and the contractor will temporarily close the ramp from eastbound I-695 (Inner Loop) to northbound Charles Street for one night, between 8 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday to shift traffic patterns on this ramp.  Motorists will be diverted past the Charles Street Interchange to the York Road Interchange, to westbound I-695 (Outer Loop) back to the Charles Street Interchange to northbound Charles Street. 

 

In case of inclement weather, the traffic pattern changes will take place on Sunday night, February 7 or the next possible weeknight.  This long-term temporary ramp closure is necessary for Phase Two of construction work on the new Charles Street bridge over I-695; crews will soon begin work on a retaining wall for the east side of the new bridge. 

 

The State’s contractor for the I-695/Charles Street Interchange project is the Six-M Company of Delta, Pa.  The entire Charles Street Interchange project will be complete late spring 2012, weather permitting.  This construction work zone is one of three locations under Maryland’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program.

 

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.  Citizens may also contact SHA’s project field office in Lutherville at    410-296-9041 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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