Ok so technically Interstate 695 on the approach the Francis Scott Key Bridge is still designated Maryland 695 according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. But to the average motorist, there is no difference between the state highway and Interstate section. A trailblazer for Interstate 695 on the Baltimore Beltway westbound as it leaves the Key Bridge however is indicative of its state highway status. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The zero milepost of Interstate 695 lies at the western base of the Francis Scott Key Bridge as the freeway touches down at Fort Armistead Park. The only interchange within the stretch in Baltimore city is that of the Exit 1 diamond with Quarantine Road. Quarantine Road stems north from adjacent Maryland 173 (Hawkins Point Road) to link the freeway. Use Maryland 173 south via Fort Smallwood Road to Foremans Corner, Orchard Beach, and Riviera Beach. Northward Maryland 173 travels Hawkins Point Road to Pennington Avenue north into the Curtis Bay and Brooklyn Manor neighborhoods of the city. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway) crosses the Curtis Creek via a draw bridge in south Baltimore. The draw bridge parallels Maryland 173 (Hawkins Point Road) between Walnut Point and the Anne Arundel County line. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Maryland 2 and 10 interchange with Interstate 695 in close proximity in northern Anne Arundel County. The two north-south highways serve the city of Glen Burnie south of Baltimore via Exits 2 and 3B. Exit 3A departs Interstate 695 west / inner for Maryland 2 (Ritchie Highway) north ahead of the directional cloverleaf with Maryland 10 (Exit 2). Photo taken 08/07/04.
The Curtis Creek drawbridge of Interstate 695 between Exits 1 and 2. The draw bridge allows larger vessels entrance to the Curtis Bay GSA Depot and U.S. Coast Guard Yard south of the beltway along the Marley Creek. Other draw bridges along the Interstate Highway System include Interstate 110 at Biloxi, MS; Interstate 280 at Newark, NJ; Interstate 278 at Bronx, NY; and Interstate 64 at Chesapeake, VA. Photos taken 08/07/04.
Exit 3A leaves Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway) westbound ahead of the Maryland 10 southbound interchange at Exit 2 to segregate the movements between the respective ramps. Maryland 2 (Ritchie Highway) northbound enters the city of Baltimore at the Brooklyn neighborhood. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 695 west / inner at the Exit 3A ramp departure for Maryland 2 (Ritchie Highway) northbound. Maryland 2 comprises a four to six lane surface arterial between Glen Burnie northward to the Baltimore city line. The state highway becomes Potee Street at Brooklyn and Hanover Street on the northwest venture into downtown Baltimore. Photo taken 08/07/04.
A cloverleaf ramp represents the southbound beginning of the Maryland 10 (Arundel Expressway) southbound beginning. Maryland 10 constitutes a full freeway between Interstate 695 and Maryland 2 & 100 at Pasadena. The freeway includes three interchanges for the city of Glen Burnie. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Maryland 10 southbound as it leaves Interstate 695 for Glen Burnie. Traffic to Maryland 2 at Glen Burnie is directed onto the upcoming partial-cloverleaf interchange with Maryland 710 (Ordnance Road) and Maryland 2 at Pasadena via the south end of the Arundel Expressway in five miles. Maryland 710 stems east from Maryland 2 (Governor Ritchie Highway) east to Maryland 173 (Pennington Avenue). Photo taken 08/07/04.
Meanwhile to the north of the Interstate 695 westbound carriageway is the Maryland 10 northbound ramp merge with the Exit 3A off-ramp onto Maryland 2 (Ritchie Highway) northbound. Traffic can either use the Exit 3A off-ramp to Brooklyn in Baltimore or merge onto Interstate 695 westbound ahead. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The north end of the Maryland 10 freeway ties into the Baltimore Beltway just one mile east of the Interstate 97 northern terminus at Exit 4. Interstate 97 represents the shortest two-digit Interstate highway in the country as it travels between Glen Burnie and Annapolis. The freeway however is a busy commuter route with important connections to the Maryland 100 freeway, Maryland 32 (Patuxent Freeway), and Interstate 595 & U.S. 50-301. Photos taken 08/07/04.
An increasingly rare Interstate 695 Maryland shield posted at the gore point between the Maryland 10 northbound on-ramp to the inner loop of the Beltway and the Exit 3A off-ramp onto Maryland 2 (Ritchie Highway) northbound. Photos taken 08/07/04.
Approaching the northern terminus of Interstate 97 on westbound Interstate 695. Exit 4 provides access to southbound Interstate 97, which passes through Glen Burnie en route to Annapolis, the capital of Maryland. Use Interstate 97 southbound for the Maryland 3 corridor to Bowie and the U.S. 301 Governor Nice Bridge across the Potomac River for interests to Richmond, Virginia. Photo taken 08/07/04.
There is no direct access from the Exit 4 interchange to northbound Interstate 895 Spur (Harbor Tunnel Thruway), but the assumption is that travelers who have just crossed the Francis Scott Key Bridge would not have a need to cross the Patapsco River again via the Harbor Tunnel; they are more likely to want to reach downtown via Maryland 295 or Interstate 95. Maryland 648, meanwhile, is Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, and it heads into Ferndale to the south and Pumphrey to the north via Exit 5. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 695 west / inner draws closer to the directional cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 97 & Interstate 895 Spur. Interstate 97 northbound defaults onto Interstate 895 Spur northbound for the Harbor Tunnel and east Baltimore. The Spur brings traffic onto Interstate 97 southbound for Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for the Eastern Shore, Salisbury, and Ocean City. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Interstate 97 southbound traffic leaves Interstate 695 west for Glen Burnie, Southgate, and Annapolis. A loop ramp composes the Exit 4 ramp from the Beltway westbound onto Interstate 97. Interstate 97 meets Maryland 100 in three miles, Maryland 32 in ten miles, and Interstate 595 & U.S. 50-301 in 17 miles. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Maryland 648 (Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard) follows Interstate 97 with an interchange on Interstate 695 westbound. The state highway parallels Interstate 97 northward from Glen Burnie and Ferndale to the beltway and from here (Exit 5) to Pumphrey and Lansdowne. Maryland 648 ends as Annapolis road in the West Port section of Baltimore at Maryland 295. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Following the exits for Maryland 648/Annapolis Road and Maryland 170/Camp Meade Road, inner/westbound Interstate 695 approaches Exit 7, Junction Maryland 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This sign bridge indicates the new control city for the inner loop of Interstate 695 (westbound): Towson, which is located at the northernmost point on the beltway, near the interchange between Interstate 695 and Interstate 83. In addition, since Maryland 295 and Interstate 95 both travel north into Baltimore, it is also mentioned as a control city. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This mileage sign along westbound/inner Interstate 695 displays the mileage to the principal spokes meeting the beltway loop. The first of these is Maryland 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and since it is the next exit (Exit 7), it is mentioned on its own sign panel to the right. The other exits include Exit 8, which provides access to Maryland 168/Nursery Road; Exit 11, Junction Interstate 95 north to Baltimore and south to Washington; and Exit 14, Junction Interstate 70 west to Frederick and east to Baltimore via Cooks Lane and U.S. 40/Edmondson Avenue. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The Baltimore-Washington Parkway is a major connector between the largest city in Maryland and the nation's capital. Passing through a corridor maintained by a variety of jurisdictions, the route is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration at the point where it crosses Interstate 695; it is designated as Maryland 295. South of Baltimore, the federal government picks up the maintenance from Maryland 175 south to U.S. 50 in the District of Columbia. Through this stretch, it does not have any numerical designation, but it is sometimes referred to as Route 295. Once in the District, the parkway gives way to District of Columbia 295, which connects with Interstate 295 at the Anacostia/11th Street Bridge couplet, south of the Pennsylvania Avenue interchange. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Reaching Maryland 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Exit 7B is for northbound Maryland 295 to Baltimore and Exit 7A is for southbound Maryland 295 to Washington. The right lane forms an exit only onto northbound Maryland 295. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 7A, Junction Maryland 295/Baltimore-Washington Parkway south to Washington. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next exit along westbound/inner Interstate 695 is Exit 8, which provides access to Maryland 168/Nursery Road. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 8, Junction Maryland 168/Nursery Road. Maryland 168/Nursery Road heads northeast to Maryland 648/Annapolis Boulevard. Nursery Road heads south to Hammonds Ferry Road and an interchange with Maryland 295, then southeast to Elkridge Landing Road near Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport. Photo taken 06/01/04.
The next exit along westbound/inner Interstate 695 is Exit 9, Hollins Ferry Road north to Lansdowne. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 9, Hollins Ferry Road. The next exit is Exit 10, Junction Alternate U.S. 1/Washington Avenue. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Alternate U.S. 1 is a brief route that begins at U.S. 1 at the intersection of Southwestern Boulevard and Washington Avenue in Baltimore County. From there, Alternate U.S. 1 follows Washington Boulevard northeast past Interstate 695 to Caton Avenue, then turns north to rejoin U.S. 1 in Baltimore city at the intersection of Caton Avenue and Wilkens Avenue (U.S. 1). The alternate route is only a few miles long, and it is decently signed. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 next approaches its southern junction with Interstate 95 (Exit 11) in Arbutus. The following two exits after Interstate 95 are identified on this mileage sign: Junction Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue and Junction Maryland 144/Frederick Road. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Now reaching Interstate 95 (Exit 11), westbound/inner Interstate 695 angles northwest toward its interchange with Interstate 70. This major interchange provides a direct route into downtown Baltimore via Interstate 95 north (Exit 11A) and a straight route down to the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) via Interstate 95 south. Note that through traffic is tolled on northbound Interstate 95 for passage through the McHenry Tunnel ($2 per car). Photo taken 06/01/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 11, Junction Interstate 95 south to Washington and the Capital Beltway. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Mileage sign along westbound/inner Interstate 695 for the next three exits: Exit 12, Junction Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue; Exit 13, Junction Maryland 144/Frederick Road; and Exit 14, Edmondson Avenue. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Exits 12B-C connect to Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue southwest to Maryland 166/Rolling Road and northeast to U.S. 1/Southwestern Boulevard. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 12B, Junction Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue east; the next exit is Exit 12C, Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue west. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 12C, Junction Maryland 372/Wilkens Avenue west, which also leads to the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Photo taken 10/10/04.
Continuing northbound on Interstate 695 toward the Exit 13 diamond interchange with Maryland 144 (Frederick Road). Maryland 144 travels west from U.S. 1 (Monroe & Fulton Streets) in Baltimore to Catonsville and Ellicott City. Photo taken 10/10/04.
Upcoming exits sign posted just beyond the half-mile guide sign for Maryland 144 (Frederick Road) on Interstate 695 north / inner for Exit 14, Edmondson Avenue; and Exit 15, Junction U.S. 40 (Baltimore National Pike). Photo taken 06/01/04.
The beltway now reaches Exit 13, Junction Maryland 144/Frederick Pike. This sign progression allows for a unique opportunity to compare newer and older sign standards in Maryland. The older sign, in the foreground, shows the name of the road in the same font as the control city. The newer sign, in the background, shows the name of the road in a small font next to the shield and the control city below both the shield and the road name. Photo taken 10/10/04.
Exit 13 departs Interstate 695 north / inner for Maryland 144 (Frederick Road). Use Frederick Road eastbound for the North Bend, Ten Hills, and Irvington neighborhoods of west Baltimore. Maryland 144 otherwise exists overall along older segments of U.S. 40 through to western Maryland. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next exit along westbound/inner Interstate 695 is Exit 14, Edmondson Avenue, which heads northeast to join U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike in the western fringes of the city of Baltimore and west toward Catonsville. Photo taken 10/10/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 14, Edmondson Avenue; the next exit is Exit 15, Junction U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 next approaches Exit 15, Junction U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike. U.S. 40, which extends almost across the country, from near Park City, Utah, east to Atlantic City, New Jersey, passes through the heart of Baltimore. Through the city, it follows the Baltimore National Pike, then Edmondson Avenue and the Franklin Street/Mulberry Street couplet into downtown. East of downtown, U.S. 40 follows Orleans Street and Pulaski Highway, then turns northeast to follow Interstate 95 en route to Delaware. Photo taken 06/01/04.
A standard cloverleaf, westbound/inner Interstate 695 meets Exit 15, Junction U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike. The first ramp (Exit 15A) leads east to Baltimore city, while the second ramp leads west to Catonsville before being subsumed by Interstate 70 west of here. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Westbound/inner Interstate 695 at Exit 15B, Junction U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike west. The next exit is Exit 16, Junction Interstate 70. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This shield for westbound/inner Interstate 695 is located just north of the Exit 15, Junction U.S. 40/Baltimore National Pike interchange. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Like U.S. 40, Interstate 70 is also nearly transcontinental, with its western terminus at a small town in Utah where Interstate 70 merges with Interstate 15. Although some have considered an extension of Interstate 70 west to California would be appropriate, funding and political desire are low for such a route (not to mention the manner in which such a freeway would cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains). And here, at this interchange, we are only a couple miles west of the eastern terminus of this major Interstate highway: at a Park and Ride. Photo taken 10/10/04.
The interchange between Interstate 695 and Interstate 70 is a symmetrical stack interchange. This ramp (Exit 16) provides access both to eastbound and westbound Interstate 70. Westbound Interstate 70 parallels U.S. 40 west to Frederick and into Pennsylvania; eastbound Interstate 70 connects back to U.S. 40 via Cooks Lane. The next exit along northbound/inner loop is Exit 17, Security Boulevard. Photo taken 08/07/04.
That's right, Interstate 70 ends at a Park and Ride. Originally, this was not the plan. Interstate 70 was supposed to extend east from Interstate 695, cut through Leakin Park and Gwynns Falls Park, and reach Interstate 95 near the Carroll Park Golf Course southeast of downtown Baltimore. Local opposition to this extension killed the proposed freeway route along with a proposed child route, Interstate 170. While a few blocks of Interstate 170 and some ramps at Interstate 95 were constructed (some of the ghost ramps in fact were removed by 1994), neither freeway is proposed to extend any further. As a result, Interstate 70 ends just beyond the Security Boulevard/Cooks Lane interchange ... at a Park and Ride that was installed over the original concrete poured for the freeway. To see the Park and Ride, follow Interstate 70 east. To begin a semi-transcontinental journey at least to Utah, exit west on Interstate 70. Otherwise, keep heading straight on Interstate 695 north! Photo taken 08/07/04.
Traveling the Exit 16 ramp onto Interstate 70 westbound toward Frederick and Hagerstown. The ramps from Interstate 695 inner to Interstate 70 west and Interstate 695 outer to Interstate 70 east compose the third level of the four-level stack interchange. Exit 16 is the only symmetrical stack interchange in all of Maryland. The nearest similarly designed interchange is the Interstate 295 (Clearview Expressway) & Grand Central Parkway symetrical stack in Queens, New York. Photo taken 08/07/04.
