In an effort to deliver on his commitment to provide innovative transportation solutions for the state of Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan announced $461 million in new traffic relief initiatives for the Baltimore region, including adding lanes to 27 miles of highway to alleviate congestion on the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and I-95.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) are pursuing three innovative design-build projects to achieve the greatest possible amount of peak-hour congestion relief on the Baltimore Beltway and I-95. The $461 million investment brings the administration’s investment in new transportation projects in the Baltimore region to a total of $7 billion.
The projects announced yesterday include:
- $151 million for innovative congestion relief on both inner and outer loops of I-695 from I-70 to MD 43, shifting the inside shoulder into a new available lane of traffic. Adaptive ramp metering also will be employed throughout the limits of the project, which is approximately 19 miles;
- $100 million for the design and construction of a new configuration of the I-695 and I-70 interchange, often referred to as the “triple bridges.” This will bring significant traffic relief to the entire Baltimore area and directly addresses six of the top 15 congested road segments in the state; and
- $210 million to extend the northbound I-95 Express Toll Lanes (ETL) for 7.75 miles from north of MD 43 in Baltimore County to MD 24 in Harford County.
In addition to these initiatives, the administration’s $7 billion investment in new transportation projects in the Baltimore region includes nearly $3.9 billion in new MDOT SHA and MDTA projects and a further $1.7 billion for the MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA). This funding represents a number of significant projects such as the widening of the I-695 Outer Loop from U.S. 40 to MD 144; adding a fourth lane on I-95, north of the Fort McHenry Tunnel between the tunnel and Moravia Road; widening MD 32 from MD 108 to I-70; and reconstructing the interchange at MD 175 and MD 295.
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Source: Office of Gov. Larry Hogan
