Maryland

[epzik8]

New VMS going up???

[TheOneKEA]

These are not new. I've seen this model of VMS elsewhere; there is a smaller one mounted on a single metal pillar next to MD 32 east's crossing of Guilford Road in Columbia.

[Mapmikey]

The 2023 HLR has been produced, dated 8/6/24...

https://roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/Index.aspx?PageId=832

Most counties had no changes at all.  Of note is that MD 97 Business exists in Brookeville.  GMSV has not done the bypass yet, so can't see if it got posted.

[epzik8]

Roommate reports every construction crane between White Marsh and Belcamp is gone.

[MASTERNC]

Roommate reports every construction crane between White Marsh and Belcamp is gone.

I think the ETLs up to MD 152 are pretty far along.  The cranes will be back though when they build the next extension past MD 24.

[TheOneKEA]

Roommate reports every construction crane between White Marsh and Belcamp is gone.

I think the ETLs up to MD 152 are pretty far along.  The cranes will be back though when they build the next extension past MD 24.

They are. The bridge decks for the expanded Gunpowder River and Little Gunpowder River bridges look like they're ready to accept concrete, and once those decks have been poured and are set I think the ETLs will be ready to open.

[epzik8]

152 north

[MASTERNC]

152 north

Getting ready for the ETL price signage.  Wonder how many will take that short hop between MD 152 and MD 543 (barring heavy traffic in the general lanes).

[epzik8]

r/maryland on Reddit is getting filled with posts asking about the shoulder overflow lane indicators going up on 695, to the point where one got deleted today.

[74/171FAN]

The 2023 HLR has been produced, dated 8/6/24...

https://roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/Index.aspx?PageId=832

Most counties had no changes at all.  Of note is that MD 97 Business exists in Brookeville.  GMSV has not done the bypass yet, so can't see if it got posted.

So I clinched MD 97 BUS in Brookeville today, and the only shields were the old MD 97 shields at the Market St/High St turn from before the bypass opened. 

[roadman65]

I see on GSV that traffic from Broening Highway in Dundalk that prior to the bridge collapse that there was no direct ramp to I-695 north.

Traffic was forced on to the SB frontage road and pass by the toll administration building and then loop around under the bridge and merge right before the toll.

In other words you were charged a bridge toll despite not crossing it.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/95BeJ8wdQ9xCbQMr9

[epzik8]

It looks like the signals at the US 1 bypass and Conowingo Road in Bel Air/Hickory are being replaced. They're 24 years old FWIW.

[TheOneKEA]

I see on GSV that traffic from Broening Highway in Dundalk that prior to the bridge collapse that there was no direct ramp to I-695 north.

Traffic was forced on to the SB frontage road and pass by the toll administration building and then loop around under the bridge and merge right before the toll.

In other words you were charged a bridge toll despite not crossing it.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/95BeJ8wdQ9xCbQMr9

The portion of the highway owned by the MdTA begins at a point east of MD 151, so it is not entirely unreasonable to charge a toll for using the bridge approaches. It is still a significant irritation though, and I expect that the reconstruction of the bridge approaches will address this anomalous use of the toll gantries.

[froggie]

I see on GSV that traffic from Broening Highway in Dundalk that prior to the bridge collapse that there was no direct ramp to I-695 north.

Traffic was forced on to the SB frontage road and pass by the toll administration building and then loop around under the bridge and merge right before the toll.

In other words you were charged a bridge toll despite not crossing it.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/95BeJ8wdQ9xCbQMr9

The portion of the highway owned by the MdTA begins at a point east of MD 151, so it is not entirely unreasonable to charge a toll for using the bridge approaches. It is still a significant irritation though, and I expect that the reconstruction of the bridge approaches will address this anomalous use of the toll gantries.

What Roadman is referring to was already addressed.  Look at both the satellite imagery and 2023 GMSV along the north/east/outer loop lanes.  Traffic on that loop road was redirected away from the now-former toll booths back when MdTA went cashless a few years ago.

There's also "no direct ramp to I-695 north" there because there isn't a need for one for most traffic.  Virtually everyone in Dundalk can get to 695 north both faster *AND* with 3-4 fewer miles by catching 695 at North Point (Exit 40) or Meritt (Exit 39).

The only real reason that loop ramp exists is for trucks to access the Dundalk marine terminal, since they can't exactly go through Dundalk like regular traffic can.  A much more minor reason for the ramp is for the handful of people who need to access MdTA headquarters which sits on that little land jut-out at Exit 44.

Long story short regarding roadman's post:  that loop ramp traffic hasn't had to pay a toll in a few years, and the "Toll" banner on that guide sign is technically an error, though it's possible it's because the sign predates the AET conversion.

[1995hoo]

Are you sure there is no toll on that ramp? The reason I ask is because when I look at Google satellite view, or the most recent Street View, I see an ETC toll gantry over the ramp adjacent to where the one over the main lanes is. Of course it could be a zero-charge gantry used for traffic count purposes or similar.

I dropped the pin next to the ramp gantry using the Google Maps iPad app in satellite view.

[froggie]

Huh...I must've missed that before.  I dunno then.

[Bitmapped]

Are you sure there is no toll on that ramp? The reason I ask is because when I look at Google satellite view, or the most recent Street View, I see an ETC toll gantry over the ramp adjacent to where the one over the main lanes is. Of course it could be a zero-charge gantry used for traffic count purposes or similar.

I dropped the pin next to the ramp gantry using the Google Maps iPad app in satellite view.

According to https://mdta.maryland.gov/TollRatesTables, the ramp is tolled but only for trucks at a rate of $2/axle. The I-895 ramps to Childs Street are also tolled at the same reduced rate.

[jmacswimmer]

Are you sure there is no toll on that ramp? The reason I ask is because when I look at Google satellite view, or the most recent Street View, I see an ETC toll gantry over the ramp adjacent to where the one over the main lanes is. Of course it could be a zero-charge gantry used for traffic count purposes or similar.

I dropped the pin next to the ramp gantry using the Google Maps iPad app in satellite view.

According to https://mdta.maryland.gov/TollRatesTables, the ramp is tolled but only for trucks at a rate of $2/axle. The I-895 ramps to Childs Street are also tolled at the same reduced rate.

That turnaround toll, while in effect normally, was suspended after the collapse and will remain so until the replacement bridge opens. The gantry is still active, however - I went thru there a few weeks ago and got the transponder read confirmation* afterward but no corresponding transaction ever posted to my account. It also appeared that any signage near the turnaround referencing "TOLL" 695 north has had a greenout placed over the "TOLL" banner.

*A nice feature from the DriveEzMD app, which started in late July for in-state MDTA tolls only - sends a push notification after passing under a gantry, sometimes within a few minutes even, confirming the transponder was successfully read well in advance of the actual transaction posting usually a couple days later.

[epzik8]

It looks like the signals at the US 1 bypass and Conowingo Road in Bel Air/Hickory are being replaced. They're 24 years old FWIW.

New signals are now up but not yet activated. It looks like they're positioned about 45 degrees off from the old ones, i.e. they line up with the angle of the business route rather than the bypass. Signage is consistent with most newer signals at numbered roads across Maryland.

[MASTERNC]

More bridge work (and speed cameras) on I-70 in Hagerstown.  This time the EB bridges over I-81 are being redone, as are two bridges east of that.

https://www.roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/pressreleasedetails.aspx?newsId=5235&PageId=818

[plain]

It looks like the signals at the US 1 bypass and Conowingo Road in Bel Air/Hickory are being replaced. They're 24 years old FWIW.

New signals are now up but not yet activated. It looks like they're positioned about 45 degrees off from the old ones, i.e. they line up with the angle of the business route rather than the bypass. Signage is consistent with most newer signals at numbered roads across Maryland.

They even kept the state tradition alive by using the green business shield on the blade. Nice!

[epzik8]

It looks like the signals at the US 1 bypass and Conowingo Road in Bel Air/Hickory are being replaced. They're 24 years old FWIW.

New signals are now up but not yet activated. It looks like they're positioned about 45 degrees off from the old ones, i.e. they line up with the angle of the business route rather than the bypass. Signage is consistent with most newer signals at numbered roads across Maryland.

They even kept the state tradition alive by using the green business shield on the blade. Nice!

I love the way we sign our business routes.

[epzik8]

We in Aberdeen got these notices mailed to us today.

[roadman65]

I just read some comments on a post elsewhere of I-68 and many contributors seem to agree that I-68 is not a good place to be in a snowstorm.

I always figured all roads aren't that good to be in a storm, but many say this particular freeway is worse than many.   I also heard fog is common along the stretch as well.

Is this route more dangerous in winter storms and fog than most?

[Rothman]

I just read some comments on a post elsewhere of I-68 and many contributors seem to agree that I-68 is not a good place to be in a snowstorm.

I always figured all roads aren't that good to be in a storm, but many say this particular freeway is worse than many.   I also heard fog is common along the stretch as well.

Is this route more dangerous in winter storms and fog than most?

I mean, if only because of the terrain.

Not all roads are equal, even from their inception...