Maryland

[tckma]

Lexus Lanes are apparently coming to the Capital Beltway, I-270, and the B/W Parkway:

http://wtop.com/maryland/2017/09/hogan-proposes-9b-plan-add-new-lanes-beltway-270-bw-parkway/

I'm not sure if the National Park Service would sell the BW Parkway to MDSHA or MDTA. 

[tckma]

I notice that widening of the American Legion Bridge is not specifically mentioned.  Without this, the current Outer Loop issues coming to that bridge will not be any better.

Or... build another Potomac River crossing and complete the long-proposed outer beltway, connecting MD-200/I-370 to VA-7100...er...286.

[Beltway]

I notice that widening of the American Legion Bridge is not specifically mentioned.  Without this, the current Outer Loop issues coming to that bridge will not be any better.

Virginia would need to participate as well, and build the section between VA-267 and Maryland.

[TheOneKEA]

The expansion of MD 295 between MD 100 and I-195 will be a significant improvement all by itself, even if the rest of the Parkway remains as-is. The northbound backups on 295 at 100 are quite terrible and the southbound side isn't much better. The addition of the Hanover Road interchange will also be very helpful, since it will remove traffic from MD 100 that exits there to go west to Exit 8 (Coca-Cola Drive) or east to Exit 10 (MD 713).

I expect that within 20-25 years, all of MD 295 will be six lanes wide or more between MD 201 near D.C. and I-95 in Baltimore.

[Jmiles32]

I expect that within 20-25 years, all of MD 295 will be six lanes wide or more between MD 201 near D.C. and I-95 in Baltimore.

Well yeah because if this plan actually becomes reality then MD-295 would have two toll lanes in each direction from Baltimore City to D.C. Unless of course you meant having a third lane in each direction including the two toll lanes, in which I doubt any private investor would ever let happen.

I notice that widening of the American Legion Bridge is not specifically mentioned.  Without this, the current Outer Loop issues coming to that bridge will not be any better.

What I didn't hear, and I realize it may be because this huge project is still in infancy(if even that), is if there are any plans to rebuild some of the horrific interchanges along these highways. Some that immediately come to mind are the many outdated freeway to freeway cloverleafs on MD-295 and the eastern half of the Capital Beltway.

[plain]

I'm not sure if the National Park Service would sell the BW Parkway to MDSHA or MDTA.

If it does happen, I wonder if the Parkway will become an extended I-295 once widening is complete?

[Beltway]

The expansion of MD 295 between MD 100 and I-195 will be a significant improvement all by itself, even if the rest of the Parkway remains as-is. The northbound backups on 295 at 100 are quite terrible and the southbound side isn't much better. The addition of the Hanover Road interchange will also be very helpful, since it will remove traffic from MD 100 that exits there to go west to Exit 8 (Coca-Cola Drive) or east to Exit 10 (MD 713).
I expect that within 20-25 years, all of MD 295 will be six lanes wide or more between MD 201 near D.C. and I-95 in Baltimore.

I'm not holding my breath, Maryland has been talking about widening the B-W Parkway since the 1970s, one of the plans would have had 8 lanes throughout.

[noelbotevera]

I'm curious about the designations of the tunnels in Baltimore...this is what I've figured out so far.

In 1979, I-895 was designated and assigned to the Harbor Tunnel, while I-95 was still using the tunnel. When the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985, I-95 was later moved to the tunnel.

What I'm curious is during those six years, was I-895 unsigned, or was there an I-95/I-895 multiplex up until 1985, when I-95 moved to the Fort McHenry Tunnel?

[Alex]

I was out there today after visiting my dad on the Eastern Shore --

-- The MD-213 interchange was built in 1994 per the date plate on the bridge

Some vidcaps from video taken early in the morning on July 5, 1993 of U.S. 301 north at MD 213:





The intersection was preceded with one of those overheads warning "red light ahead when flashing".

[Beltway]

I'm curious about the designations of the tunnels in Baltimore...this is what I've figured out so far.
In 1979, I-895 was designated and assigned to the Harbor Tunnel, while I-95 was still using the tunnel. When the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985, I-95 was later moved to the tunnel.
What I'm curious is during those six years, was I-895 unsigned, or was there an I-95/I-895 multiplex up until 1985, when I-95 moved to the Fort McHenry Tunnel?

I don't recall I-95 ever being designated on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway.  What I am not fully sure about is whether it had "To I-95" signs or "TEMP I-95" signs, I think it had one of them after I-95 was open to the south and the north of Baltimore in 1972, and then only in a few trailblazers.  At that point Interstate continuity for the I-95 corridor already existed in the form of using I-695 to the west of the city.

I-95 was always planned for a new routing in the City of Baltimore, on the East-West Expressway thru the downtown in the Baltimore 10-D Interstate System concept of 1962, and on the Fort McHenry Bypass located on the Locust Point peninsula in the Baltimore 3-A Interstate and Boulevard System concept of 1968 -- where it was ultimately built.

[cpzilliacus]

The expansion of MD 295 between MD 100 and I-195 will be a significant improvement all by itself, even if the rest of the Parkway remains as-is. The northbound backups on 295 at 100 are quite terrible and the southbound side isn't much better. The addition of the Hanover Road interchange will also be very helpful, since it will remove traffic from MD 100 that exits there to go west to Exit 8 (Coca-Cola Drive) or east to Exit 10 (MD 713).
I expect that within 20-25 years, all of MD 295 will be six lanes wide or more between MD 201 near D.C. and I-95 in Baltimore.

I'm not holding my breath, Maryland has been talking about widening the B-W Parkway since the 1970s, one of the plans would have had 8 lanes throughout.

The NPS under Reagan offered to transfer the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the Maryland State Highway  Administration, which was firmly and politely refused. 

Transferring it to MDTA makes sense, but four added toll lanes does not.  Better to toll the entire parkway (let the shunpikers  use I-95, U.S. 29 or other alternate routes) and widen it  to three lanes each way, which would retain its parkway character.

[cpzilliacus]

I'm curious about the designations of the tunnels in Baltimore...this is what I've figured out so far.
In 1979, I-895 was designated and assigned to the Harbor Tunnel, while I-95 was still using the tunnel. When the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened in 1985, I-95 was later moved to the tunnel.
What I'm curious is during those six years, was I-895 unsigned, or was there an I-95/I-895 multiplex up until 1985, when I-95 moved to the Fort McHenry Tunnel?

I don't recall I-95 ever being designated on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway.  What I am not fully sure about is whether it had "To I-95" signs or "TEMP I-95" signs, I think it had one of them after I-95 was open to the south and the north of Baltimore in 1972, and then only in a few trailblazers.  At that point Interstate continuity for the I-95 corridor already existed in the form of using I-695 to the west of the city.

When the  "Between the Beltways" section of I-95 opened in the early 1970's, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway was pretty intensely signed as TO I-95, suggesting that southbound traffic stay on the Tunnel Thruway from present-day I-95 Exit 63, complete with guide signs that read "WASH RICH," through the tunnel and south to present-day I-895 Exit 3 (a sharp ramp then and now) to Inner Loop I-695, then back to I-95 southbound at I-695 Exit 11 (then and now).

Northbound, the signs approaching I-695 said for I-95 traffic to exit to I-695 Outer Loop to I-695 Exit 8A (I-895 northbound), which "naturally" brought traffic back to I-95 (no exiting needed) at the northern terminus of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway.

When the Fort McHenry Tunnel was completed in 1985, all of this went away. The Harbor Tunnel Thruway was signed as I-895 and I-95 was signed as I-95. 

Before the Between the Beltways part of I-95 was built, the signs encouraged traffic to use the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which  was also signed TO I-95.

[1995hoo]

I have seen old maps that show the BW Parkway as TEMP I-95 (I'm a few years too young to have seen this on the road). I don't ever recall TEMP I-95 on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. I do recall the old sign on the I-695 Inner Loop when you reached its southern junction with I-95 where the sign for the road leading into Baltimore had a blank Interstate shield with no number, I guess so people wouldn't think it was the way to New York.

[cpzilliacus]

I have seen old maps that show the BW Parkway as TEMP I-95 (I'm a few years too young to have seen this on the road). I don't ever recall TEMP I-95 on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. I do recall the old sign on the I-695 Inner Loop when you reached its southern junction with I-95 where the sign for the road leading into Baltimore had a blank Interstate shield with no number, I guess so people wouldn't think it was the way to New York.

I do not recall ever seeing a TEMP I-95 sign on present-day I-895 or on the state or federal parts of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. 

Now there were TO I-95 assemblies on both 895 and on the Parkway (these were apparently intended to be temporary, as they were usually installed on wood timbers and not on steel posts).

[Alps]

I have seen old maps that show the BW Parkway as TEMP I-95 (I'm a few years too young to have seen this on the road). I don't ever recall TEMP I-95 on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. I do recall the old sign on the I-695 Inner Loop when you reached its southern junction with I-95 where the sign for the road leading into Baltimore had a blank Interstate shield with no number, I guess so people wouldn't think it was the way to New York.

I do not recall ever seeing a TEMP I-95 sign on present-day I-895 or on the state or federal parts of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. 

Now there were TO I-95 assemblies on both 895 and on the Parkway (these were apparently intended to be temporary, as they were usually installed on wood timbers and not on steel posts).

[Beltway]

I have seen old maps that show the BW Parkway as TEMP I-95 (I'm a few years too young to have seen this on the road). I don't ever recall TEMP I-95 on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. I do recall the old sign on the I-695 Inner Loop when you reached its southern junction with I-95 where the sign for the road leading into Baltimore had a blank Interstate shield with no number, I guess so people wouldn't think it was the way to New York.

I do not recall ever seeing a TEMP I-95 sign on present-day I-895 or on the state or federal parts of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. 
Now there were TO I-95 assemblies on both 895 and on the Parkway (these were apparently intended to be temporary, as they were usually installed on wood timbers and not on steel posts).

Are those on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway?  What year?  I took lots of photos of Maryland highways from the early 1970s onward, but unfortunately I did not photograph the signing of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway before I-95 was completed.

[cpzilliacus]

I have seen old maps that show the BW Parkway as TEMP I-95 (I'm a few years too young to have seen this on the road). I don't ever recall TEMP I-95 on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. I do recall the old sign on the I-695 Inner Loop when you reached its southern junction with I-95 where the sign for the road leading into Baltimore had a blank Interstate shield with no number, I guess so people wouldn't think it was the way to New York.

I do not recall ever seeing a TEMP I-95 sign on present-day I-895 or on the state or federal parts of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. 

Now there were TO I-95 assemblies on both 895 and on the Parkway (these were apparently intended to be temporary, as they were usually installed on wood timbers and not on steel posts).

These look very much like the ones that were installed on what is now I-895, and the sign assemblies were attached to the existing light poles (which were not wood).

[cpzilliacus]

Are those on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway?  What year?  I took lots of photos of Maryland highways from the early 1970s onward, but unfortunately I did not photograph the signing of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway before I-95 was completed.

These look to be early 1980's or before (they were removed after the Fort McHenry  Tunnel opened to traffic).  The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway had signage that was somewhat different from the rest of Maryland, and nearly all of it has been replaced (I think the only thing that remains of that old style is a small green overhead panel approaching the Holabird Avenue exit on the Canton Viaduct). 

Unlike most "free" state-maintained roads in Maryland as well as the JFK Highway section of I-95, I do not remember the BHT ever having buttoncopy signs.

[Alps]

Are those on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway?  What year?  I took lots of photos of Maryland highways from the early 1970s onward, but unfortunately I did not photograph the signing of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway before I-95 was completed.

These look to be early 1980's or before (they were removed after the Fort McHenry  Tunnel opened to traffic).  The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway had signage that was somewhat different from the rest of Maryland, and nearly all of it has been replaced (I think the only thing that remains of that old style is a small green overhead panel approaching the Holabird Avenue exit on the Canton Viaduct). 

Unlike most "free" state-maintained roads in Maryland as well as the JFK Highway section of I-95, I do not remember the BHT ever having buttoncopy signs.

Most of them were removed. These lasted into the late 2000s.

[Beltway]

These look very much like the ones that were installed on what is now I-895, and the sign assemblies were attached to the existing light poles (which were not wood).

The font and format is certainly what was used in the 1960s and 1970s for Interstate trailblazer signs.

[froggie]

The NPS under Reagan offered to transfer the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the Maryland State Highway  Administration, which was firmly and politely refused.

Are you confusing that with the BPR/NPS 1963 proposal which Maryland declined (didn't want to spend the money) or was there a separate Reagan era attempt?

[Mapmikey]

These look very much like the ones that were installed on what is now I-895, and the sign assemblies were attached to the existing light poles (which were not wood).

The font and format is certainly what was used in the 1960s and 1970s for Interstate trailblazer signs.

Here is a photo of BW pkwy at beltway in late 60s showing a 95 shield.



Can't verify from Tampa hotel but IIRC the 1961 rand McN shows bw pkwy as I95

[Beltway]

The font and format is certainly what was used in the 1960s and 1970s for Interstate trailblazer signs.

Here is a photo of BW pkwy at beltway in late 60s showing a 95 shield.

But isn't that the B-W Parkway exit to eastern I-495?

[Mergingtraffic]

I took lots of photos of Maryland highways from the early 1970s onward, but unfortunately I did not photograph the signing of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway before I-95 was completed.

Do you have any pics showing an I-170 shield around the expressway stub?

[Mapmikey]

The font and format is certainly what was used in the 1960s and 1970s for Interstate trailblazer signs.

Here is a photo of BW pkwy at beltway in late 60s showing a 95 shield.

But isn't that the B-W Parkway exit to eastern I-495?

Yes.  This is before 95 between the beltways existed.  Photo is meant to illustrate that the style of shield being discussed does go back that far.

Secondarily it might show that temporary through routes for 95 in MD were posted as TO 95 instead of TEMP 95.