FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2017
I-95 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO ADD CAPACITY NORTH OF THE TUNNEL
Project will increase roadway to four lanes;
Minimal impact to traffic
BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) today announces a $49.4 million project to reconfigure travel lanes on a four-mile stretch of I-95 north of the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Once complete, the project will provide four continuous lanes on I-95 between the Tunnel and Moravia Road. The current roadway has three lanes with merge lanes in several sections. Funded completely by toll revenue, this safety and capacity project will increase reliability of travel times on this section of I-95.
“This project will reduce the commute time for the 123,000 motorists that use it every day,” said Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chairman Pete K. Rahn.
Weather-permitting, the contractor will begin restriping along northbound I-95 on Sunday, April 2. This work involves reconfiguring the lanes on the existing roadway surface. Work will begin on southbound I-95 at a later date. The work will be done overnight during bore closures at the Fort McHenry Tunnel and will take 10 to 12 nights to complete, weather-permitting. The contractor will remove the existing roadway striping and install new striping on northbound I-95, starting in the far right lane and moving across the road to the left. Once the restriping is complete, traffic will be fully shifted to the right. During this first traffic shift, there will be no left shoulder and only a small right shoulder.
Here are the areas on I-95 that will be converted from three lanes and merge lanes to four continuous lanes:
Northbound I-95
- From Exit 57 (Boston Street) to the entrance ramp from O'Donnell Street.
- From Exit 60 (Moravia Road) to where the I-95 Express Toll Lanes begin.
Southbound I-95
- From Exit 57 (Boston Street) to entrance ramp from Interstate Avenue.
The speed limit within the work zone will be reduced from 55 mph to 50 mph during the project. Additionally, automated speed enforcement (ASE) will be in place after the first traffic shift on northbound I-95. The MDTA will issue a traffic advisory announcing the start date for ASE.
The entire project is expected to be complete in summer 2018. Concrete General of Gaithersburg will restripe I-95, reconstruct at-grade shoulders, replace at-grade median concrete traffic barriers and reconstruct portions of the existing bridge decks and all concrete bridge parapets.
The MDTA will update motorists on changing traffic patterns via traffic advisories, social media and its website. Motorists should pay attention to electronic and static signs for current travel information. To view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov. For real-time updates on major incidents follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheMDTA.
The MDTA thanks its customers for their patience and reminds them to Stay Alert So No One Gets Hurt!
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