Interstate 695 Maryland

History

South Parent Jct.

North Parent Jct.

Routing

One of Baltimore's most heavily travelled highways, Interstate 695 encircles the city on a 52-mile beltway. Recent construction has seen the northern portion of the beltway widened to eight lanes, with new sound barriers installed. The formerly two-lane section of Interstate 695 (at one time posted as Maryland 695) near Sparrows Point was recently widened to four lanes. Milepost 0 is at the tolled Francis Scott Key Bridge ($1 toll for passenger vehicles), which is also the last section of then-Maryland 695 to open to travel.

The mileage figure below reflects only 30.57 miles of the 52 mile Beltway as Interstate 695. After further investigation of the 2002 AADTS Report by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, the Baltimore Beltway south of the east parent junction at Exit 33 to Exit 4 with Interstate 97 near Glen Burnie is still surprisingly designated as Maryland 695. This reveals why 22 of the 52 miles of Interstate 695 are not included in the Interstate Route Log and Finders List.

Planned Improvements

$800 million in funds is thought to be needed for Interstate 695 expansion. One of the methods in which transportation officials are contemplating to aid in covering the costs is the introduction of HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes for the Baltimore Beltway. Under this plan, lanes will be added to Interstate 695 that entail a user fee or toll. A variable rate for the tolls will aid in congestion related issues. The goal is widen Interstate 695 from six to eight lanes between Interstate 83 and Interstate 95 on the northeast side of the city and Interstate 95 and Security Boulevard (exit north of Interstate 70) on the southwest side of the city. Other projects already underway are the Liberty Road interchange (Exit 18) reconstruction and addition of a southbound lane between Frederick Road (Exit 13) and Interstate 95 (Exit 11). Completion of these elements of construction occurs during the year 2004. In a related project to Interstate 695, Maryland 43, better known as White Marsh Boulevard, will extend east to Eastern Avenue (Maryland 150) by 2006. Maryland 43 cuts the corner between the Interstate 95 and 695 interchange east of the city.¹

History

Began as a county project, the Baltimore beltway originated in planning as early as 1949. Taken over by the state in 1953 and added to the Interstate system by 1956, the beltway was three quarters completed by 1962. Portions of two other freeway projects (the Windlass and Patapsco Freeways) were incorporated into the southeastern quadrant by 1974. The Francis Scott Key Bridge was the final piece of the overall beltway, opening in 1977 as a toll facility.²

Highway Guides

• Interstate 695/Baltimore Beltway

	Beltway Milepost 0 - Francis Scott Key Bridge - south Baltimore, Maryland The west end of the Francis Scott Key Bridge represents the location of milepost 0 for the Interstate 695 Baltimore Beltway. This photograph looks at the bridge from the westbound lanes to the east. The bridge carries a $1 toll for passenger vehicles as it crosses the Patapsco River. Photo taken by Jim K. Georges (07/99). Side profile of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Mileposts for Interstate 695 count upwards as the Beltway travels clockwise from the crossing. Photo taken by Jim K. Georges (07/99). Perspective from Interstate 695 west Approaching the Francis Scott Key Bridge and associated toll plaza. Interstate 695 recently expanded from a Super 2 section of freeway from the bridge eastward through the Sparrows Point area of southeast Baltimore County. Photo taken by AARoads (10/12/01). Descending westbound on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Interstate 695 briefly enters the city limits of Baltimore on this stretch. Photo taken by AARoads (10/12/01). South Parent Junction - Interstate 95 - Arbutus, Maryland Perspective from Interstate 95 south Soon after departing the Interstate 395 stack interchange is this upcoming exits sign on Interstate 95 southbound. Interstate 95 reaches Interstate 695 in three miles and Interstate 195 in five miles. The ramp to the right connects to the Maryland 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway southbound. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Approaching Exits 50A/B of Caton Avenue (Alternate U.S. 1) on Interstate 95 southbound. Interstate 695/Exits 49B/A will be reached in two miles. Through this stretch of highway Interstate 95 maintains eight lanes. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Interstate 95 is orientated in an east-west fashion through much of Baltimore. This southbound photograph faces westward and shows the 1.25 mile guide sign for Exits 49B/A - Interstate 695. Also of interest at this location is the fact that Interstate 70 was to have interchanged with Interstate 95 here. Some of the ghost ramps for the never built interchange have since been removed. However, some do remain as does a berm from the project visible to the right in this photograph. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Nearing the western parent junction of Interstate 95/695 on Interstate 95 southbound. The southbound beltway off-ramp departs from Interstate 95 on the left. The panel for Exit 49B here includes directions to Interstate 70. The east-west Interstate connects to Interstate 695 five miles to the north at a symmetrical stack interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Exit 49B for Interstate 695 north/Interstate 70 departs from an exit-only lane to the right. Interstate 95 continues westward to Exit 49A. The southbound control cities include Annapolis and Glen Burnie for the connection to Interstate 97. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). A pair of original button copy signs still adorn this sign bridge at the Interstate 695 interchange. The space allocated below Washington on the pull-through panel used to display Richmond as a secondary control city. In fact, Richmond and Washington were signed as Interstate 95 control cities throughout much of southwest Baltimore originally. A nearby mileage sign still retaining the distance to Richmond ia the only vestige of this practice to remain. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Another button copy sign for Interstate 695 southbound is in place at the departure of Exit 49A. The same sign bridge features the two mile guide sign for the northern terminus of Interstate 195 at Exit 47A. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 95 south Interstate 195 2 miles at Arbutus, MD Interstate 95/495 overlap begin 22 miles at Greenbelt, MD Interstate 595 30 miles at Ardmore, MD Perspective from Interstate 695 south Photos to be added later. Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 695 south Interstate 97 4 miles near Woodlawn Heights, MD Interstate 95 23 miles near Kenwood, MD Interstate 83 overlap begin 33 miles at Lutherville-Timonium, MD North Parent Junction - Interstate 95 - near White Marsh, Maryland Perspective from Interstate 95 south Interstate 95 southbound at the eastern junction with Interstate 695. Interstate 895 shields are posted within this interchange due to the close proximity to the southbound beginning of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. This interchange has the unusual distinction where Interstate 95 travel lanes overlap each other to allow for access ramps to the Baltimore Beltway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/97). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 95 south Interstate 395 11 miles at downtown Baltimore, MD Interstate 695 15 miles at Lansdowne, MD Interstate 195 17 miles at Arbutus, MD Perspective from Interstate 695 north Button copy overhead on Interstate 695 northbound for Interstate 95. New York is the preferred control city for Interstate 95 north throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (09/93). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 695 north Interstate 83 overlap begin 10 miles at Lutherville-Timonium, MD Interstate 83 overlap end 11 miles at Brooklandville, MD Interstate 795 18 miles at Pikesville, MD Perspective from Interstate 695 south Southbound on Interstate 695 at Exit 32B for U.S. 1 northbound to Perry Hall and Bel Air. The upcoming exits sign is the first indication of the east parent junction with Interstate 95. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Interstate 695 reduces to two southbound lanes at Exits 33A/B - Interstate 95. Interstate 695 sees its lightest traffic volumes on the southeast quadrant of the Baltimore Beltway. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Tunnel prohibitions advisory sign for Interstate 95 and 895 southbound on Interstate 695 as it approaches Exit 33A. As mentioned in the milepost 0 section, hazmats are advised to take the Francis Scott Key Bridge to cross the Patapsco River. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). One half mile north of Exit 33A/Interstate 95 southbound on Interstate 695 south. Downtown Baltimore is ten miles to the west while Washington D.C. is approximately 44 miles to the south. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Two lanes facilitate travel to Interstate 95 southbound. Interstate 695 continues southeast to Maryland 702, the Southeast Expressway, before turning southward to Essex and Dundalk. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Interstate 95 southbound gore point sign at Exit 33A. In the background is Exit 33B for Interstate 95 northbound. The control city is New York, although Interstate 95 also serves Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Trenton before reaching the Big Apple. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 695 south Interstate 97 19 miles at Woodlawn Heights, MD Interstate 95 23 miles near Kenwood, MD Interstate 70

Sources:

1. "Tolls may help fund Beltway expansion." Baltimore Sun, November 14, 2003.
2. MDRoads: I-695.

Page Updated May 28, 2009.