When the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) formally opened all four lanes of the new I-895 bridge north of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) at the end of 2020, it marked a milestone on another project that’s been tackled safely during the COVID-19 emergency – and came less than two months after Governor Larry Hogan and MDTA Chairman and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Greg Slater visited the project to thank crews for their hard work.
The three-year, $189 million I-895 Bridge Project is replacing the 60-year-old bridges and Holabird Avenue exit ramp north of the Harbor Tunnel. The project also includes rehabilitation of the Harbor Tunnel.
All four lanes are now open during peak times, with two lanes of traffic in both the northbound and southbound directions from north of the tunnel, through the tunnel and to the toll plaza. The opening of all lanes has been accomplished ahead of schedule, and transitions the project to its final phase. Moving forward, motorists should expect some lane closures during off-peak travel times into summer 2021 as crews complete shoulder work and final paving.
Crews working on the project got a boost in late October when Governor Hogan joined Secretary Slater and MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports for a tour of the project’s southbound bridge, which at the time was nearing completion.
MDTA Director of Operations Will Pines led the tour, and Governor Hogan stopped along the way to express his gratitude for the crew members responsible for the bridge project being ahead of schedule.
Secretary Slater echoed the governor’s sentiments and shared his excitement for the project’s advancement.
“Our front-line partners, including about 280 crew members and our MDTA inspectors and engineers, have worked throughout the COVID-19 emergency to make it happen,” Secretary Slater said. “I’m grateful not only for their efforts, but also for the patience and cooperation of the public as we’ve worked on this project. The result will be better, safer access for the community and for commerce.”
The new northbound and southbound structures replace the MDTA’s only poorly-rated bridge in its inventory, moving Maryland one step closer to fulfilling the governor’s 2015 commitment to replace every deficient bridge identified at the time.
“All of these improvements are happening under the governor’s administration,” said MDTA Executive Director Ports. “We’re so proud to have him as a leader.”
For more details on the I-895 project, visit 895bmore.com and follow the MDTA on Twitter, #895bmore.
MDTA projects are financed solely by toll revenue. In the past year, the MDTA has delivered both the I-895 bridge work and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge westbound right lane rehabilitation ahead of schedule, and has begun work on replacing the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge in Charles County.
For more information about MDOT, go to: mdot.maryland.gov, or Twitter or Facebook.