The new year is bringing a major traffic change to Interstate 95 and White Marsh Boulevard, thanks to the ongoing I-95 Express Toll Lanes project.
The new traffic pattern—which includes the addition of a left turn lane on westbound Maryland Route 43 and new left exits toward I-95—is expected to take effect on or around Jan. 4, according to roadside signs and an announcement by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Previously, all traffic from MD Route 43, also called White Marsh Boulevard, to I-95 exited on the right. The new pattern includes the following, according to the MdTA:
- Eastbound MD 43 to I-95 North, left exit
- Eastbound MD 43 to I-95 South, right exit
- Westbound MD 43 to I-95 North, right exit
- Westbound MD 43 to I-95 South, left exit
Officials are urging caution and asking drivers to pay close attention to roadside signs. See the PDF released by the MdTA in the gallery for a diagram and safety tips.
The White Marsh portion of the project carries a $142.6 million price tag and is expected to create 400 new jobs. The total project, which stretches from north of White Marsh along I-95 to south of the Interstate 895/Moravia Road interchange, will cost $1.03 billion and is expected to be finished by 2014, according to the MdTA.
The ultimate goal of the project is to provide additional highway lanes, where drivers can avoid some I-95 traffic back-ups. When complete, drivers may travel on existing lanes of I-95 at no additional cost, or may use express lanes by paying a toll.
Do you plan to use the new toll lanes when complete? Tell us in the comments.
P.S. We never really thought about how this might affect traffic for those local drivers on Rt. 43. Obviously, it creates even more traffic on that road, but hey, what do you want us to do? we don't think before we speak!" Why do I continue to live in a state where my taxes continue to get sucked up by a black hole?
My home backs up to the 43/695 ramps, and I still support the changes. I'm not saying that I'll use the toll lanes daily, but on days when there's an accident or a disabled vehicle (days which number higher than you'd think), these lanes are likely to cut almost an hour off of my commute. Additionally, no one here is thinking of people who drive through MD via 95. That's money for the state and an easier drive for those driving long distances -- which seems like a win-win to me. No one is forcing you to drive in the toll lanes. But don't ruin things for those of us that will benefit from them once construction is complete.
I know how many days there are accidents and disabled vehicles on 95 and I still wouldn't use the express lanes, just like I would never use the Easy Pass. I can "ruin things" all I want by stating my opinion. Oh and to "Acts Like Summer" I don't expect everything to be free. I can "gripe" all I want and you're exactly right; no one is forcing me to use the express lane, but now we all have to sit in gridlock on 43 because of the ridiculousness of the whole thing, so please.
Luckily i don't drive I-95 everyday so I probably won't have a need for the toll lanes, but if I did, I would use my EZ Pass!
1. a 10% discount off the cash rate at Maryland tolls. 2. No monthly maintenance fee if you use the account 3 times a month. 3. A commuter rate if you have high usage. 4. $9 for the transponder if you don't have one. Seems like a no-brainer especially for the convenience factor and almost never waiting in line? What am I missing?
People who pay the tolls are people who use the roads - shouldn't they have to pay to keep them maintained? And the fact that you don't have an EZPass proves that you don't actually drive far through the highly-trafficked portions of 95, as you'd be using a commuter pass if you went through the tunnel on a daily basis. Also, my main concern about the griping on this thread is that people don't have to use the pay lanes. They can choose to use the normal lanes which, to their benefit, will be less congested than they are today (a result of the new lanes).
Additionally, I'm not sure when the system hasn't worked for you, but I use tolls daily and have never had an issue with a toll not registering or with being mischarged.
I drove in this new pattern today and can just tell you it's just a pile of accidents and grief waiting to happen. If you're coming from honeygo & get on the ramp to go 95S you have to yield TWICE. The loop going south is not as big as the loop coming back to the area (going 95N) and the first yield just sneaks up on you...keep in mind this is just a ONE LANE ramp. Anyway, as soon as you get on it you have to yield to traffic coming from the opposite direction (one lane as well) also getting on that same ramp and then shortly after that there is a TINY merge lane to get over in the right lane onto 95! WTF?!!!! Can you just imagine driving on this in the rain or fog?Do these people responsible for designing this traffic pattern know how much traffic there is leaving the area to get on 95S? Coming back to the area has improved but leaving the area is absolutely DANGEROUS!!!