Battle of The Beltways I-495(Washington DC) vs. I-695 ( Baltimore Beltway)

[Jmiles32]

The Baltimore and Capital beltways are two of today's most popular and congested beltways. Also both are extremely important to their respected cities. Which one would you rather travel on and is more of an enjoyable drive? Also which one is more helpful(in terms of reducing traffic) to their metro area?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Since you posted this in the road meet section, maybe we should all get together and find out?

[froggie]

Some of us already have.

[Zeffy]

I think I-285 in Atlanta and I-495 in MD/DC/VA is the true battle of the beltways (and which one is more rage inducing, although I haven't experienced I-285 yet).

[davewiecking]

Interesting question. Does it belong under Road Enthusiast Meetings?

I'm much more familiar with the 64 mile Capital Beltway, and driven all parts of both loops many times. It helps to know which lanes to use on which parts. Hate to say it, but I love the VA Express Lanes (not just because of less congestion, but marginally better ramps at I-66). So in terms of enjoyable or which one I'd rather travel on, I guess DC qualifies. It helps that it gets me where I need to go. However, the view from the top of Key Bridge is also pretty enjoyable.

Originally, the 51 mile long Balt Beltway had cooler interchanges. The I-70 stack, and particularly the I-95 braiding and left hand exits were marvels for their time. Capital Beltway now has numerous interchanges with flyover ramps going every which way, and I'm not sure Balt has kept pace in this regard.

The top of the Balt Beltway includes the I-83 concurrency; 19 miles are technically MD 695. On the other hand, nothing beats the Capital Beltway's concurrency of I-95/495.

Reducing traffic? Neither one.

Two things used to be possible on the DC Beltway back in the 70's, only one of which is physically possible today.
1) circumnavigate in under an hour.
2) circumnavigate without changing lanes.

Were/are either possible on the Baltimore Beltway?

[jeffandnicole]

I was say the DC Beltway is miles more important than the others as it also carries the main highway around the city. In the other cases, the main highway goes thru the city.

[Jmiles32]

Yes it should have been in General Highway talk

[74/171FAN]

Unsure, but being a Braves fan I would rather root for the Orioles than the Nationals.  Also the Ravens over the Redskins.

Honestly, though I kinda like driving I-495 when it is not so congested because to me it is the closest I will ever see to Talladega on a freeway (outside of I-285 of course). 

[PHLBOS]

the I-95 braiding and left hand exits were marvels for their time. Were/are either possible on the Baltimore Beltway?

Due to the addition of the Express I-95 Toll lanes & corridor, only I-695 mainline is still braided through the northern I-95 interchange.

I was say the DC Beltway is miles more important than the others as it also carries the main highway around the city. In the other cases, the main highway goes thru the city.

As most of us, including yourself, know; such wasn't the original plan for the Capital Beltway.  The original plan for I-95 between College Park, MD and DC was cancelled.

[froggie]

I was say the DC Beltway is miles more important than the others as it also carries the main highway around the city. In the other cases, the main highway goes thru the city.

As most of us, including yourself, know; such wasn't the original plan for the Capital Beltway.  The original plan for I-95 between College Park, MD and DC was cancelled.

If we're defining the "main highway" as I-95, then yes.  But aren't I-66, I-70, and I-83 also main highways?  While two of the three penetrate their respective cities, none of the three actually pass through.

[froggie]

I see this got moved to General Highway Talk.  If anything, given the subject, it should've been moved to Mid-Atlantic instead.

[PHLBOS]

I see this got moved to General Highway Talk.

And rightly so.  When I first clicked on the thread; I thought such was for a potential road meet in that area.  Given, the close proximity of those 2 beltways; one could clinch both beltways easily in one day.

If anything, given the subject, it should've been moved to Mid-Atlantic instead.

Unless such gets hijacked by talk about other beltways (somebody did mention I-285 in Atlanta earlier in the thread); I would agree.

I was say the DC Beltway is miles more important than the others as it also carries the main highway around the city. In the other cases, the main highway goes thru the city.

As most of us, including yourself, know; such wasn't the original plan for the Capital Beltway.  The original plan for I-95 between College Park, MD and DC was cancelled.

If we're defining the "main highway" as I-95, then yes.  But aren't I-66, I-70, and I-83 also main highways?  While two of the three penetrate their respective cities, none of the three actually pass through.

Based on Jeff's post (and I could be mistaken); I believe that when he said, "carries the main highway around the city", he was indeed referring to the I-95/eastern half of the Capital Beltway.

Your other main highway examples (I-66, 70 & 83) were never envisioned, to the best of my knowledge, to go completely through their respective cities.  All of them were supposed to terminate (originally at highway interchanges) inside city limits.  Whereas I-95, from the get-go, was envisioned to be a through-highway in the Baltimore & DC areas.

[froggie]

Your other main highway examples (I-66, 70 & 83) were never envisioned, to the best of my knowledge, to go completely through their respective cities.  All of them were supposed to terminate (originally at highway interchanges) inside city limits.

Strictly speaking, yes.  But the inference is that, had they been built, travelers could still use them to go through a city.

[cpzilliacus]

The Baltimore Beltway does not have to do double-duty as I-95 (a short section on the southwest side once did), but about half of the Capital Beltway  (on the south and east sides) must carry much of the "through" I-95 traffic of cars and trucks in addition to local movements.

[AlexandriaVA]

The Baltimore Beltway does not have to do double-duty as I-95 (a short section on the southwest side once did), but about half of the Capital Beltway  (on the south and east sides) must carry much of the "through" I-95 traffic of cars and trucks in addition to local movements.

Still is below capacity. Traffic only occurs due to accidents or Redskins games. Proves no need for a highway through DC.

[hbelkins]

I'd much rather drive Baltimore's. I've driven the length of both of them and from a traffic standpoint, I-695 wins hands-down in my view. Plus, Key Bridge > Wilson Bridge.

[AlexandriaVA]

Plus, Key Bridge > Wilson Bridge.

Wilson Bridge has the distinction of touching three state-level jurisdictions. Don't know of many, if any, others that do that.

[kj3400]

Baltimore Beltway by far. But I'm a little biased.

[cpzilliacus]

The Baltimore Beltway does not have to do double-duty as I-95 (a short section on the southwest side once did), but about half of the Capital Beltway  (on the south and east sides) must carry much of the "through" I-95 traffic of cars and trucks in addition to local movements.

Still is below capacity. Traffic only occurs due to accidents or Redskins games. Proves no need for a highway through DC.

The overloaded nature of U.S. 50 in Prince George's County does.  As does the economic stagnation of areas along the Green Line (compare and contrast West Hyattsville and Prince George's Plaza to the stops along the Orange Line).

A significant percentage of goods delivered by truck to the District of Columbia comes down U.S. 50 from Maryland, then continues into the city via U.S. 50 or Md. 201/D.C. 295.

[jeffandnicole]

The Baltimore Beltway does not have to do double-duty as I-95 (a short section on the southwest side once did), but about half of the Capital Beltway  (on the south and east sides) must carry much of the "through" I-95 traffic of cars and trucks in addition to local movements.

Still is below capacity. Traffic only occurs due to accidents or Redskins games. Proves no need for a highway through DC.

Being at, above, or below capacity doesn't have anything to do with importance.  Being able to move traffic thru an area does.  Make a road 10 lanes wide each way to eliminate traffic jams doesn't mean the roadway is suddenly unimportant, just as a 2 lane congested roadway going thru a small down because of bad signal timing doesn't make it very important.  Using the NJ Turnpike for example, the fact that it was 6 lanes 5 years ago vs. 12 lanes today did not increase or decrease its importance one bit.  It simply allowed traffic to flow better.

Yes, I was referring to 95 as the main road, although 'the parent road' would have been a better choice of words.

In this respect, the DC Beltway is of the utmost importance.  Without it, 95 would terminate.

The fact that the beltways were built lessoned the importance of building the other 2 di highways headed towards the city, as motorists could use them to get to other destinations.  They would've/should've been built, but the beltway assists in carrying the load, and gave opponents even greater reason to cancel the projects.

[TravelingBethelite]

Now, where do the Hartford, Boston, or Providence beltways figure into all this?     

[Henry]

Because I-95 goes through Baltimore but not Washington, I prefer I-695 as a much better alternative than the western end of I-495. If you don't mind going up to the sky, the Key Bridge is a great way to go, plus you get to view the downtown skyline on a clear day, and it's a much more scenic drive through that part of town, which isn't as built-up as the others.

OTOH, I-495 has the National Cathedral going for it and the few twists and turns in that area, but nothing else.

[AlexandriaVA]

OTOH, I-495 has the National Cathedral going for it and the few twists and turns in that area, but nothing else.

Wrong. National Cathedral is in DC and nowhere near the Beltway. You're thinking of the Mormon temple in Kensington.

[tckma]

As congested as I-695 gets during rush hours (to a point where my commute is US-29:I-70:MD-97:MD-140 versus US-29:I-70:I-695:I-795:MD-140), I-495/I-95 is much much MORE unpleasant to drive.  I try to avoid the DC area entirely whenever possible, opting for US-301 or US-15 to points south, regardless of the time of day, unless I'm specifically headed somewhere inside/near the Beltway.  Plus, you don't have the idiotic Lexus Lanes that aren't even properly separated from the main lanes.

[Jmiles32]

As congested as I-695 gets during rush hours (to a point where my commute is US-29:I-70:MD-97:MD-140 versus US-29:I-70:I-695:I-795:MD-140), I-495/I-95 is much much MORE unpleasant to drive.  I try to avoid the DC area entirely whenever possible, opting for US-301 or US-15 to points south, regardless of the time of day, unless I'm specifically headed somewhere inside/near the Beltway.  Plus, you don't have the idiotic Lexus Lanes that aren't even properly separated from the main lanes.

I would say in terms of volume, the entire capital beltway and the western half I-695 have around the same amount of horrendous traffic, the only difference is the eastern half of I-695 around the key bridge in which traffic is much lighter because most thru traffic takes I-95 or I-895 thru Baltimore.