As Thanksgiving starts the holiday season, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) reminds drivers to roadmap their travels to help everyone on roads arrive safely at their destination. This holiday travel period is consistently one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Plan ahead and be sure to allow ample travel time. Packing your patience, along with your suitcase will go a long way towards achieving the goal of helping reach your destination. Motorists are implored to drive with safety in mind at all times when behind the wheel to protect yourself, your family and other travelers.
For motorists traveling in and around the Baltimore metropolitan area, it is important to note that the southeast section of I-695 is closed at MD 173 (Exit 1) on the Outer Loop and MD 151/North Point Boulevard (Exit 42) on the Inner Loop. For more information visit https://mdta.maryland.gov/HarborCrossings. The I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel and I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel have restrictions on hazardous materials, width and height. Vehicles carrying hazardous or explosive materials, including bottled propane gas in U.S. DOT approved containers larger than 10 pounds (maximum of 10 ten-pound containers) are prohibited from using both tunnels. It does not matter whether or not the bottles are empty or full. This is the case for personal and business usage. These vehicles should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels.
Note: Hazmat prohibitions and permissions within the tunnels are governed by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR): Title 11, Subtitle 7, Chapter 1 (11.07.01). Based on COMAR, certain hazardous materials are permitted to travel the tunnels. Learn more by visiting https://mdta.maryland.gov/TunnelRestrictionsAndVehiclePermits.
Work zones are present within the heavily traveled I-95 corridor. The MDTA urges all motorists to focus, slow down and stay alert when driving through or near work zones.
The Maryland Transportation Authority is providing the following suggested travel times for its major routes during the holiday period.
RECOMMENDED TIMES TO DRIVE
Bay Bridge travel times to avoid the most congested periods are:
- Tuesday, November 26 – before noon and after 8 p.m.;
- Wednesday, November 27 – before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m.;
- Thursday, November 28 – before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m.;
- Friday, November 29 – before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.;
- Saturday, November 30 – before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.; and
- Sunday, December 1 – before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
Weather and traffic permitting, two-way operations will be implemented to help ease eastbound delays at the Bay Bridge. Two-way operations may be limited based on westbound traffic volumes, as bridge officials strive to mitigate delays on both sides of the bridge. Two-way operations are prohibited during bridge wind warnings/restrictions, fog/limited visibility or times of precipitation, and may be prohibited during incidents.
I-95 (JFK Memorial Highway and Fort McHenry Tunnel) best times to travel include:
- Tuesday, November 26 – before noon and after 11 p.m.;
- Wednesday, November 27 – before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m.;
- Thursday, November 28 – before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m.;
- Friday, November 29 – before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.;
- Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1 – before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.; and
- Monday, December 2 – before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
The I-95 travel plazas – Chesapeake House in Cecil County at mile marker 97 and Maryland House in Harford County at mile marker 82 – are open 24/7 with food, indoor/outdoor seating, fuel and electric vehicle charging stations are available. It Can Wait! Rest areas designated as safe zones for texts.
Nice/Middleton Bridge (US 301) suggested drive times include:
- Wednesday, November 27 – before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.; and
- Sunday, December 1 – before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
HOW TO PAY TOLLS IN MARYLAND
Tolls in Maryland are collected through E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate, and Video Tolling. E-ZPass is the most cost-effective, saving drivers up to 77% versus the higher rates and saving additional paperwork that comes with Video Tolls. With Pay-By-Plate, tolls are automatically billed to the driver’s registered credit card as they use Maryland toll facilities, with no need for a transponder or pre-paid deposit. Pay-By-Plate rates are the same as former cash rates. Learn more and enroll in E-ZPass or sign up for Pay-By-Plate at https://www.driveezmd.com/acct-types/.
If using a rental vehicle over the holiday, vehicle information can be added temporarily to an E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate account. Otherwise, be sure to inquire with the rental car company before traveling a route that includes a toll facility. Use the MDTA’s toll rate calculator to plan your driving routes and estimate the cost of tolls based on your vehicle at https://driveezmd.com/toll-rate-calculator/.
DriveEzMD Customer Service Centers will be closed on Thursday, November 28. Visit DriveEzMD.com or go to the mobile App or Google Play Store to download the DriveEzMD app. The automated system at 1-888-321-6824 is available for 24/7 account maintenance or to make payments.
DRIVER SAFETY REMINDERS
- Allow for extra time to get to your destination.
- Obey speed limits. Speeding equals less time to react and increases the severity of a crash.
- To assist in minimizing distractions while driving, always set up your GPS before you start your trip when needing directions. Driving while distracted is extremely dangerous for you, your passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
- Maryland’s Move Over law includes all stopped vehicles displaying any type of caution signals or warning lights when approaching from the rear. Slow down if you cannot safely move over into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the stopped vehicle.
- Make sure your vehicle is road-ready. If your vehicle breaks down, exit the roadway. If that isn’t possible, remain inside your vehicle and call #77 for assistance.
- Obey overhead lane-use control signals in travel lanes before, during, and after the bridge or tunnel, wherever lane signals are present.
- RED X: Means the lane is closed. DO NOT enter or travel in any lane where a RED X signal is shown.
- YELLOW X: Prepare to vacate the lane beneath the YELLOW X signal and move to a lane with a DOWNWARD GREEN ARROW.
- DOWNWARD GREEN ARROW: Motorists can drive in the lane beneath the GREEN ARROW signal.
The MDTA Police remind drivers that it is NEVER permissible to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs – whether they are illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter medications. Impaired driving endangers your life and the lives of others. During the holidays, law enforcement officers will remain vigilant and target dangerous driving, seat belt violations, and criminal activity. With the restrictions at the I-95/I-895 tunnels, the MDTA Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Unit (CVSU) will continue to diligently observe these areas to enforce compliance with safety regulations. To report aggressive or dangerous driving on Maryland toll roads, call MDTA Police Dispatch at 410-537-7911.
Travelers also are reminded to pay attention to their surroundings and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. If you see something, say something. If there is an emergency, call MDTA Police Dispatch or dial 911.
For real-time updates on major incidents on Maryland toll roads, follow us on X at https://x.com/TheMDTA. For 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic information, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or visit Baybridge.com.
The MDTA wishes everyone safe travels this holiday season.
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