Beltway Backups Will

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) says that it will take a few more years to ease the heavy traffic along the Baltimore Beltway.

I-695 from I-70 to MD 43 (White Marsh Blvd) TSMO (Transportation Systems Management and Operations)

Baltimore County

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) is continuing the project, I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) from I-70 to MD 43 (White Marsh Blvd) in Baltimore County - Project #BA0065172.

This Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) project is being developed under a Design-Build process to reduce congestion and delay and increase the reliability of travel within the project area.

Overview

This project is currently in the design, pre-construction and construction stages.

The main goal of the Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) project is to reduce congestion along the west and north sides of the Baltimore Beltway, from the I-70 interchange to MD 43 (White Marsh Boulevard).

• TSMO Strategies are cost-effective and generally require little to no additional right-of-way.
  • One of these strategies will be to convert portions of the existing median shoulder to a toll-free travel lane during the morning and evening rush hours. Read more information on part-time shoulder use on freeways here.
  • Other strategies may be considered to improve traffic flow and safety, including Active Traffic Management and Ramp Metering.
  • Maryland and other states are successfully using the Design-Build approach to develop innovative traffic relief strategies at lower costs.
• SHA will utilize design-build as the project delivery method for this project. Parameters were established in advance, and SHA requested proposals from teams that consisted of design and construction firms. These teams submitted proposals for their comprehensive traffic relief solutions for this section of the Baltimore Beltway.
• The project contract has been awarded to a Design-Build team, and the Design-Build team received Notice to Proceed in late fall 2020.
• Design, Pre-Construction, and Construction activities are underway through 2028.

Interactive Project MapBaltimore County Government, VGIN, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, METI/NASA, USGS, EPA, NPS, USDA, USFWS | Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) , Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), MDOT SHA Geospatial Technologies Team (GIS@sha.state.md.us) | MDOT SHAPowered by Esri

Project Status

Early Summer 2025

The contract was awarded to a Design-Build team in spring 2021. Design, Pre-construction, and Construction phase tasks are underway along segments of I-695 between south of I-70 and west of MD 43, including:

• testing of concrete pavements and barriers;
• conducting surveys of pipes and inlets; installation of conduits and telecommunications lines for Intelligent Transportation Systems (traffic monitoring and control);
• reconstruction and paving of highway shoulders and slope work along shoulders;
• shifting all traffic lanes over from the left to the right and placement of concrete barriers on both the Inner and Outer Loops, summer and fall 2024, to create a work zone in the center of the Beltway for the next phase of work.

Design activities, pre-construction testing, and field investigations are concurrent with construction work along the I-695 corridor, which will continue through 2028.

Check the Weekly Temporary Lane Closure Schedules and Documents for updates and traffic alerts.

Construction Traffic Advisory - Summer 2025

During construction work, there may be temporary shoulder, travel lane and interchange ramp closures allowed at any time during off-peak hours. Long-term traffic lane shifts and shoulder closures will occur, and concrete traffic barriers will be installed within the work zones.

During travel lane and interchange ramp closures, motorists are encouraged to plan for extra travel time and consider alternate routes. Crews will use digital message boards, temporary signs and barrels to direct drivers safely through the night-time work zone and through any temporary ramp closure detour routes.

For real-time lane closures, ramp closures, highway incidents and travel advisories on Interstate, U.S. and Maryland numbered highways, go to the MDOT Coordinated Highway Action Response Team (CHART) website.

Weekly Temporary Lane Closure Schedules - Summer 2025

All dates/times for temporary lane and ramp closures are subject to change due to weather conditions and other construction factors

Week of June 8, 2025

Week of June 15, 2025

I-695 TSMO Project Work Zone Safety - Variable Speed Limits and Automated Speed Enforcement

Variable Speed Limits within I-695 Highway Work Zones in Effect - Changes from 55 mph to 45 mph (Daytime or Overnight Work)

The highway construction work zone speed limit may change from 55 mph to 45 mph at any time highway workers are present in the I-695 TSMO project work zone between south of I-70 and east of MD 43 (White Marsh Boulevard).

Drivers should plan ahead for more travel time on I-695 within the work zone, look ahead for changing speed limit numbers on digital speed limit signs, and observe the speed limit currently in effect.

Maryland Safe Zones Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE):

Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) may be in effect at any time within designated segments of work zones along I-695. There will be signs and digital speed displays posted in advance of each segment of I-695 where ASE is in effect.

For more information on the ASE program and fines in effect as of January 1, 2025, go to:

Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones (maryland.gov)

Schedule

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