102-551: Interstate 695 ( I-695 ) is a 51.46-mile-long (82.82 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway that constitutes a beltway extending around Baltimore , Maryland, United States. I-695 is officially designated the McKeldin Beltway but is colloquially referred to as either the Baltimore Beltway or 695 . The route is an auxiliary route of I-95 , intersecting that route southwest of Baltimore near Arbutus and northeast of
204-406: A US Coast Guard base further upstream. Continuing west through industrial areas into Anne Arundel County , the route encounters the northern terminus of MD 10 (Arundel Expressway) at a directional interchange, where maintenance switches to MDSHA . The interchange includes access to the next interchange, with MD 2 (Ritchie Highway), a major north–south route between Baltimore and
306-543: A milepost-based system ) and in a clockwise (inner loop) direction, in accordance with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines. Auxiliary Interstate Highway Auxiliary Interstate Highways (also called three-digit Interstate Highways ) are a subset of highways within the United States' Interstate Highway System . The 323 auxiliary routes generally fall into three types: spur routes , which connect to or intersect
408-552: A four-level stack interchange with I-70 / MD 570 in Woodlawn . The Baltimore Beltway narrows from seven to six lanes within the interchange, which contains braided ramps providing access to the next interchange, MD 122 (Security Boulevard), located near Security Square Mall and the headquarters of the Social Security Administration . Continuing north, the road widens to eight lanes again and continues through
510-506: A mix of suburban homes and business parks in Lochearn . I-695 interchanges with MD 26 (Liberty Road) east of Randallstown and resumes north, narrowing to six lanes. It intersects the southern terminus of I-795 (Northwest Expressway), which serves as a bypass of MD 140 in the Owings Mills area. The MTA's Baltimore Metro SubwayLink line to Owings Mills passes under I-695 within
612-618: A partial interchange with I-895 (Harbor Tunnel Thruway) with access only from the southbound direction of I-695 to I-895 northbound and from I-895 southbound to the northbound direction of I-695. Past this interchange, I-695 heads north, interchanging with Hollins Ferry Road in Lansdowne before passing under CSX Transportation 's Baltimore Terminal Subdivision and coming to an interchange with US 1 Alternate (US 1 Alt.; Washington Boulevard) in Arbutus . A short distance later, I-695 comes to
714-406: A place where the highway mileage resets to zero. Beltways are also preceded by an even number in the first digit. Some examples of beltways include: Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County ( listen ; / ə ˈ r ʌ n d əl / ), also notated as AA or A.A. County , is located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2020 United States census , its population
816-594: A semi-directional interchange with I-95 . I-695 widens to nine lanes past interchange with I-95, with five lanes in the southbound direction and four in the northbound direction. Running northwest, it crosses over Amtrak 's Northeast Corridor and comes to a partial interchange with US 1 (Southwestern Boulevard), with a southbound exit and northbound entrance. From here, it continues northwest through residential areas of Catonsville to an interchange with MD 372 (Wilkens Avenue). Narrowing to eight lanes total, with four lanes in each direction, beyond MD 372,
918-458: A state. There are three states that have no auxiliary Interstate Highways: Alaska, Arizona, and New Mexico. North Dakota has an auxiliary route, but it is unsigned , and Wyoming's does not meet Interstate Highway standards. Auxiliary Interstates are divided into three types: spur , loop , and bypass routes. The first digit of the three digits usually signifies whether a route is a bypass, spur, or beltway. The last two digits are derived from
1020-645: A tractor-trailer carrying a backhoe that exceeded the maximum height requirement struck a pedestrian footbridge over the Baltimore Beltway just northwest of the I-95 junction near Arbutus. The footbridge collapsed onto the inner loop of the beltway. One driver was killed when his SUV struck the collapsed bridge; six others were injured, three critically. The incident occurred during the afternoon rush hour . The footbridge had been closed to pedestrians since November 1996 due to complaints about vandalism and crime. The beltway
1122-404: A tunnel that was initially proposed to run under the river; in subsequent years, they were upgraded to a four-lane configuration compliant with Interstate Highway standards , allowing for this portion of the route to be signed as I-695 rather than MD 695. There are plans for I-695 that include high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes to ease traffic. In addition, the northeastern interchange with I-95
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#17328546255701224-530: A two-way all-electronic toll gantry with a U-turn ramp from the southbound to the northbound direction intended to provide southbound motorists access to MD 695A. This ramp, known as MD 695C , also provides access to northbound I-695 from MD 695A through Authority Drive. After this, the route ascended onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge , which carried I-695 over the lower Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River until its collapse in 2024. Unlike
1326-560: Is covered by water. Anne Arundel County is located to the south of Baltimore . Most of the county's borders are defined by water. To the east lies the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay , and numerous tidal tributaries of the bay indent the shoreline, the various rivers, creeks, streams, inlets forming prominent peninsulas , also known as "necks" (as further south in Virginia). The largest of these tributaries include (from north to south),
1428-642: Is located at the end of the Broadneck peninsula near the west end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge . It features a beach and marina and hosts many festivals and special events throughout the year. Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden is located at the Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis. The 5 acre garden features representations of the state's various geographic areas. The county also contains some of
1530-604: Is part of the Central Maryland region of the state. Anne Arundel County is included in the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington combined statistical area . The county was named for Lady Anne Arundell, (1615/1616–1649), the daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour , members of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England. She married Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore , (1605–1675), and
1632-484: Is the section of I-695 that diverges southwest from the directional T interchange with MD 702 to a point less than a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest where I-695 makes a sharp turn from west to south. From here, the Windlass Freeway would have continued to its southerly terminus at I-95. This sharp turn is half of what would have been another directional T interchange (which was to have become exit 37), marking
1734-477: The 118th Congress , Anne Arundel County is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by John Sarbanes (D) of the 3rd district , and Steny Hoyer (D) of the 5th district . As of the 2010 United States Census , 537,656 people, 199,378 households, and 139,262 families were residing in the county. The population density was 1,295.9/sq mi (500.3/km ). The 212,562 housing units had an average density of 512.3/sq mi (197.8/km ). The racial makeup of
1836-445: The 2016 presidential election , Anne Arundel County voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 6,016 votes. It was the first time that the county had supported a Democrat for president since 1964 . Four years later, Joe Biden won the county by nearly 15%, the largest margin of victory for a Democrat in the county since the landslide election of Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential election . The County Executive oversees
1938-516: The B–W Parkway (MD 295) at a cloverleaf interchange where the route's signage changes from east–west to north–south at this interchange. It turns more to the north from here and heads into commercial areas, interchanging with MD 168 (Nursery Road) and Hammonds Ferry Road. Past this interchange, the route crosses the Patapsco River into Baltimore County and soon encounters
2040-522: The Continental Army by providing troops for three regiments. The 3rd Maryland Regiment , the 4th Maryland Regiment , and the 6th Maryland Regiment were recruited in the county. During the War of 1812 , one of the original six heavy frigates of the recently re-established United States Navy , U.S.S. Constitution , sailed from Annapolis prior to its victorious engagement with the H.M.S. Guerriere of
2142-642: The Department of Transportation . The Rural Maryland Council , an independent agency, is also headquartered in an unincorporated area in the county. The Maryland House of Correction , operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services , was located in Anne Arundel County. The prison was closed in 2007. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates several additional correctional facilities in
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#17328546255702244-716: The Fort McHenry or Baltimore Harbor tunnels, hazmat trucks were allowed to cross the Francis Scott Key Bridge. After crossing the Patapsco River over the bridge, the route touched down within the Baltimore city limits. It continues west past Thoms Cove through Hawkins Point 's industrial areas. It comes to an interchange with Quarantine Road (where the route resumes after the collapsed bridge), which provides access to MD 173 , south of Curtis Bay . By this point,
2346-521: The Magothy River , Severn River , South River , and the West River . Further south, the upper Patuxent River forms the border of Anne Arundel with Prince George's County to the west. Deep Run forms part of the northwestern border with Howard County , and Lyons Creek forms part of the southern border with Calvert County . The Patapsco River to the north is the border with Baltimore County , but
2448-578: The Piedmont province . Elevations in Anne Arundel County range from sea level at the Chesapeake and tidal tributaries to about 300 feet (91 m) in western areas near the fall line. The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling, but more dramatic banks and bluffs can be found where waterways cut through areas of higher elevation. With the exception of the very limited extent of Piedmont underlain by Precambrian to early Paleozoic metamorphic rock , all of
2550-681: The national anthem of the US. By the early 1980s, the southern approach to the Francis Scott Key Bridge was dualized, with a second roadway constructed along with a second drawbridge over Curtis Creek. The northern approach was left as a two-lane viaduct in the Sparrows Point area until a four-lane surface freeway was constructed along this portion, with interchanges reconfigured, following an $ 89.5-million (equivalent to $ 151 million in 2023) project completed in January 2000. The Outer Harbor Crossing, as well as
2652-566: The stack interchange at I-70/MD 570, under design as of 2022, would allow at least eight lanes to pass under this interchange. All these projects will enable up to 10 lanes to be constructed at a future date. Also, ramp meters will be installed at selected entrances. After the Key Bridge collapsed, President Joe Biden announced that the bridge would be rebuilt . Exits are numbered sequentially (unlike other Interstates in Maryland which use
2754-405: The 178,670 households, 34.9% had children under 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were not families. About 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.09. In the county,
2856-402: The 199,378 households, 34.6% had children under 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were not families, and 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 38.4 years. The median income for a household in
2958-576: The Baltimore Beltway is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA). The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved the redesignation of MD 695 as I-695 on April 29, 2024. The Baltimore Beltway was first planned in 1949 by Baltimore County ; the state eventually took over the project, becoming part of the Interstate Highway System planned in 1956. The length of
3060-609: The Baltimore Beltway passes to the north of Goucher College and comes to an interchange with Providence Road . I-695 turns southeast through residential areas past Providence Road and comes to an interchange with MD 542 (Loch Raven Boulevard) and Cromwell Bridge Road . The road continues toward Parkville , where it comes to a cloverleaf interchange with MD 41 (Perring Parkway) within commercial areas. The Baltimore Beltway continues through residential areas into Carney , coming to another cloverleaf interchange with MD 147 (Harford Road). Continuing east into White Marsh ,
3162-614: The Baltimore Beltway was completed in December 1955 between MD 25 (Falls Road) and the Harrisburg Expressway (present-day I-83). In 1956, the next portion of the road between the Harrisburg Expressway and MD 45 (York Road) opened. Several more segments of the Baltimore Beltway would be built in the following years, with the section from MD 168 (Nursery Road) to the Glen Burnie Bypass (present-day I-97) opening in 1957;
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3264-529: The British Royal Navy . On May 22, 1830, the inaugural horse-drawn train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad travelled the 13 miles (21 km) of the newly completed track from Mount Clare Station in southwestern Baltimore to Ellicott Mills , (now Ellicott City), then in the Western or Howard District (now Howard County ) of Anne Arundel County. This was the first regular railroad passenger service in
3366-645: The Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, became the established church of the Province of Maryland through an Act of the General Assembly. Ten counties had been established in the colony, and those counties were divided into 30 parishes, with vestrymen appointed within each. Ann Arrundell County was divided into four parishes: Herring Creek, South River, Middle Neck, and Broad Neck. Between 1694 and 1695,
3468-500: The Francis Scott Key Bridge crossing of the Patapsco River. The Baltimore County Planning Commission first conceived the Baltimore Beltway as a county-level roadway project in 1949; by 1953, the state took over the project due to slow progress at the county level. The project was included as part of the Interstate Highway System by 1956, increasing the speed of construction due to federal funds available. The first part of
3570-456: The MTA's Baltimore Light RailLink and turns southeast as a six-lane road, heading into the county seat of Towson . Here, the road comes to an interchange with MD 139 (Charles Street). The Baltimore Beltway heads through residential and commercial areas before coming to interchanges with MD 45 (York Road) near The Shops at Kenilworth and MD 146 (Dulaney Valley Road). Continuing east,
3672-526: The Patapsco Freeway after crossing Back River to the east, making this the southern terminus of the Patapsco Freeway. Continuing southeast, I-695 rejoins the original alignment of the beltway. Ramp stubs for the planned Windlass Freeway are present at the proposed west end at I-95 and Moravia Road, and, at the present west end at the Southeast Freeway (MD 702), the partially built junction with
3774-595: The Patuxent River and the Patapsco River (mainstem and South Branch) upstream to their headwaters on Parr's Ridge . The northwestern section of this long tract later became Howard County, with the border between the two running very close to the Atlantic Seaboard fall line . As a result, Anne Arundel County lies almost entirely within the Atlantic Coastal Plain , while Howard County is almost entirely within
3876-591: The United States. In 1831, land west of the railroad was considered the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In 1851, The Howard District was broken off to form Howard County , now the 21st county in Maryland (of 23). The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 588 sq mi (1,520 km ), of which 173 sq mi (450 km ) (29%)
3978-400: The age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males. According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development , the following were the principal employers in
4080-442: The beltway as I-695. On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge on I-695 collapsed after a ship collided with the bridge . The incident killed six construction workers and forced traffic to be rerouted to Interstate 895 . Following the collapse, the section of I-695 between MD 157 (exit 43) and MD 173 (exit 1), including exit 44, was closed. There are long-term plans to add new lanes to I-695 to ease traffic congestion along
4182-497: The bids were so high that the decision was made to construct a four-lane bridge instead. The bridge was to feature two-lane approach roads on both sides. Construction on the Outer Harbor Crossing, including the bridge, started in 1972 and was opened on March 23, 1977, completing the full Baltimore Beltway. The bridge was named the Francis Scott Key Bridge in honor of Francis Scott Key , who wrote " The Star-Spangled Banner ",
Interstate 695 (Maryland) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-403: The cancelation of a more outer route that was to partly follow what is today MD 702 (Southeast Boulevard). The Outer Harbor Crossing over the Patapsco River, which was dedicated to Francis Scott Key , who wrote " The Star-Spangled Banner ", and its approaches were finished in 1977, completing the route around Baltimore. The approaches to the bridge were originally two lanes to accommodate
4386-613: The city near White Marsh . It also intersects other major roads radiating from the Baltimore area, including I-97 near Glen Burnie , the Baltimore–Washington Parkway (B–W Parkway; MD 295) near Linthicum , I-70 near Woodlawn , I-795 near Pikesville , and I-83 in the Timonium area. Originally, a 19.37-mile (31.17 km) portion of the Baltimore Beltway between I-95 northeast of Baltimore and I-97 south of Baltimore
4488-400: The communities and areas of Brooklyn and Curtis Bay neighborhoods (and adjacent Fairfield, Wagner's Point [also known as East Brooklyn], Arundel Cove [off of Curtis Creek], and Hawkins Point), lying south of the Patapsco River were annexed from Anne Arundel County to Baltimore in the third major annexation of January 1919. Anne Arundel County originally included all of the land between
4590-497: The county in November 2014 (excluding U.S. post offices and state and local governments, but including public institutions of higher education). In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $ 61,768, and the median income for a family was $ 69,019 (these figures had risen to $ 79,294 and $ 91,071 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 43,747 versus $ 32,348 for females. The per capita income for
4692-477: The county is underlain by thick deposits of gravel, sand, silt, and clay dating from the early Cretaceous to Holocene times. Most of these sediments are unconsolidated but include local formations of sandstone, especially in the Pasadena area. Anne Arundel County has a humid subtropical climate , with hot summers and cool winters. Annual precipitation averages around 40 in (100 cm) per year throughout
4794-494: The county was $ 27,578. About 3.60% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over. Several state agencies are headquartered in unincorporated areas in Anne Arundel County. Executive departments include the Department of Agriculture , the Aviation Administration , the Department of Housing and Community Development , and
4896-425: The county was $ 83,456 and for a family was $ 97,557. Males had a median income of $ 63,187 versus $ 48,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 38,660. About 3.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2000, 489,656 people, 178,670 households, and 129,178 families were residing in
4998-403: The county was 75.4% White, 15.5% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.3% were German , 18.6% were Irish , 12.3% were English , 7.4% were Italian , 5.0% were Polish , and 4.4% were American . Of
5100-855: The county was known as "Providence" by many of its early settlers. On March 25, 1655, after the English Civil War , (1642–1651), in Europe, the Battle of the Severn , the first naval colonial battle ever fought in North America, was fought in Anne Arundel County on the Severn River between Puritan forces supporting the Commonwealth of England and forces loyal to Lord Proprietor Cecilius Calvert. The Commonwealth forces under William Fuller were victorious. In 1692,
5202-423: The county, with a fairly even distribution throughout the year. Annual snowfall totals around 20.1 in (51 cm) on average at BWI Airport, which has an elevation of 156 ft (47.5 m) above sea level. Slightly colder winter temperatures and higher snowfall are experienced at the higher elevations, with slightly lower snowfall closer to sea level. According to the most recent USDA Hardiness zone maps,
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#17328546255705304-767: The county. It is the home of the National Security Agency . The Naval Academy is located in Annapolis. There are two full-service hospitals in Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital) in Glen Burnie, part of the University of Maryland Medical System . Anne Arundel County is the home of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport , commonly referred to as BWI. BWI serves as
5406-545: The county. The population density was 1,177 people/sq mi. There were 186,937 housing units with an average density of 449 per square mile (173/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 81.24% White, 13.57% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. About 2.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 17.7% were of German , 13.1% Irish , 10.5% English , 8.1% United States or American, and 7.0% Italian ancestry. Of
5508-447: The east of Baltimore city) is a fully directional interchange where the carriageways of both routes crossed over each other onto the opposite side, then crossed over each other again; at the site of each crossover, left-hand entrance and exit ramps were provided to eliminate the need for directional flyovers. In 2008, interchange reconstruction at the I-95 interchange removed the left-hand entrance from northbound I-95 to westbound I-695 with
5610-488: The easternmost portions of Patapsco Valley State Park , consisting of mostly undeveloped areas of forest and wetlands along the lower Patapsco River. The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains "a comprehensive system of recreational programs for county residents and the preservation of valuable land," including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, community parks, green ways, archaeological, environmental, and historical preserves, and large regional facilities. Some of
5712-412: The entire Baltimore Beltway east of I-95, was first signposted as MD 695 because portions of it were a two-lane expressway not up to Interstate Highway standards . Improvements to the road have allowed the entire Baltimore Beltway to be signed as I-695, even though all of I-695 between the junction of I-95 northeast of Baltimore and I-97 is officially considered MD 695 by MDSHA. On June 8, 1999,
5814-482: The executive branch of the county government, which consists of a number of offices and departments. The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of the county government. The County Council, as the legislative branch, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the county's legislative powers. The most recent county election occurred November 8, 2022. Several major law enforcement agencies serve Anne Arundel County: In
5916-486: The first lord proprietor of the colony, Province of Maryland , in an arranged marriage contract in 1627 or 1628. Modern spelling adds an 'e' to her first name of "Ann" and removes the second 'L' from the family name of "Arundell", but the old traditional spelling of her name is still used in the title of the local historical society, the Ann Arundell County Historical Society . Anne Arundel County
6018-477: The highway currently terminates due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse . The route runs past Tradepoint Atlantic before crossing over Bear Creek and interchanging with unsigned MD 695A (Broening Highway) south of the Dundalk Marine Terminal , with an eastbound exit and westbound entrance (both of which have been closed since the bridge collapse). Beyond this interchange, the route comes to
6120-471: The interchange and runs in the median of I-795 as far as that town. At the I-795 interchange, the signage of route changes from north–south to east–west. From here, I-695 heads northeast as an eight-lane road and enters Pikesville , where it passes under CSX Transportation's Hanover Subdivision and intersects MD 140 (Reisterstown Road) at a single-point urban interchange . A short distance later,
6222-567: The interchange. Running south along the Windlass Freeway, parallel to the Northeast Corridor, I-695, now narrowed to four lanes, turns west before making a sharp turn to the south, crossing over the railroad line twice. The road becomes the Patapsco Freeway and continues south to an interchange with MD 150 (Eastern Avenue) and MD 157 ( Merritt Boulevard ) near Eastpoint Mall . A short distance later, I-695 comes to an interchange with MD 151 (North Point Boulevard). From here,
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#17328546255706324-574: The junction with I-95, the Baltimore Beltway was planned to extend southeast along the Back River Neck peninsula, turning south to cross the Back River near the Essex Skypark airport, then heading towards the present Outer Harbor Crossing. Part of this alignment was completed as I-695 to the south of US 40 in 1972, then as MD 702 (Southeast Freeway), extending to MD 150 by 1975. However,
6426-701: The left-turn ramps and I-95's double crossovers. The ramp from northbound I-95 to eastbound I-695 was completed in September 2008, the ramp from westbound I-695 to northbound I-95 was completed in October 2008, the ramp from northbound I-95 to westbound I-695 was completed in November 2008 (eliminating the left-hand exit), and the ramp from eastbound I-695 to southbound I-95 was completed in May 2009. The ramps from southbound I-95 to both westbound and eastbound I-695 were completed in June 2009 and
6528-438: The lowland areas of the county fall into Zone 8a, with an expected annual minimum temperatures of 10 to 15 °F (−12 to −9 °C), while higher elevation and inland areas fall into Zone 7b, with expected annual minima of 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12 °C). Anne Arundel County has had a charter government since 1965. The government consists of a county executive and a seven-member county council. These members are elected in
6630-550: The main Interstate Highway. For instance, I-115 contains an odd number in the first digit (1), which indicates that this freeway is a spur. The last two digits signify the highway's origin. In this case, the "15" in I-115 shows that it is a supplement to I-15 . Exceptions to the standard numbering guidelines exist for a number of reasons. In some cases, original routes were changed, extended, or abandoned, leaving discrepancies in
6732-554: The main airport for the metropolitan Baltimore region. It is also an increasingly popular alternative airport to residents of the Washington, D.C. , area. BWI is an East Coast hub for Southwest Airlines , meaning that nonstop flights are available between BWI and much of the country. The southern portion of the Maryland Transit Administration 's Light Rail system, connecting downtown Baltimore with BWI, runs through
6834-669: The major facilities include the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail , Downs Park , Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary , Fort Smallwood Park , Kinder Farm Park , and Quiet Waters Park . Other attractions include the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville , the Maryland State House and the Colonial Annapolis Historic District . Anne Arundel County is home to the two largest shopping malls in
6936-499: The northern and western parts of the route between the two interchanges with I-95. These plans would widen the sections between I-95 and I-70 on the west side and between the Jones Falls Expressway and I-95 on the north side. Work on the widening project began in 2020. In addition, there are plans to add a fourth lane between the ramps to I-795, ending the disappearing fourth lanes in this section. A multiyear project to replace
7038-562: The northern part of Anne Arundel County. The county also has multiple stops on the MARC commuter rail service, including a stop at BWI Rail Station , located near BWI Airport. Amtrak trains also stop at BWI's train station. The Laurel-based Connect-a-ride system operates two routes in the western portion of the county, including Severn, Arundel Mills, Maryland City, Glen Burnie, Hanover, and Odenton. Howard County's Howard Transit Silver route serves Arundel Mills shopping mall and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Sandy Point State Park
7140-474: The northern terminus of I-97 , which terminates on the beltway. The route continues west as a six-lane freeway, heading west into residential areas of Linthicum . It interchanges with MD 648 (Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard), where 132,330 vehicles travel I-695 every day, before turning northwest and intersecting MD 170 (Camp Meade Road) and passing over the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)'s Baltimore Light RailLink . The route encounters
7242-399: The northern terminus of the Patapsco Freeway, the other freeway incorporated into the Baltimore Beltway. The Patapsco Freeway was planned to connect the Windlass Freeway to the originally-planned Baltimore Beltway. Completed in 1973, the planned Patapsco Freeway is now part of I-695. The wide median in I-695 south of exit 41 (Cove Road) is where the unbuilt beltway would have intersected
7344-552: The open countryside north of Baltimore. Within this interchange, I-83 forms a concurrency with I-695, and the roadway widens to 10 lanes, with six for the beltway and four for I-83. In each direction, I-695 runs on the three leftmost lanes, while I-83 uses the two rightmost ones. After running concurrently, I-83 splits from I-695 by heading north on the Harrisburg Expressway at a directional interchange and continues towards Timonium , Cockeysville and Hunt Valley before reaching York, Pennsylvania . Beyond I-83, I-695 passes over
7446-413: The original length of the Baltimore Beltway, from MD 2 in the south clockwise to US 40 in the northeast, was fully completed and opened to traffic, providing the first Interstate-grade bypass of Baltimore and the first beltway in the US built under the Interstate Highway System. A segment of the road completed in 1973 ran from MD 10 to MD 2, heading toward the Outer Harbor Crossing. From
7548-542: The parent route at one end; bypasses , which connect to the parent route at both ends; and beltways , which form a circle that intersects the parent route at two locations. Some routes connect to the parent route at one end but to another route at the other end; some states treat these as spurs while others treat them as bypasses. Like the primary Interstate Highways , auxiliary highways meet Interstate Highway standards (with rare exceptions ). The shorter auxiliary routes branch from primary routes; their numbers are based on
7650-489: The parent route's number. All of the supplement routes for Interstate 95 (I-95) are designated with a three-digit number ending in "95": I-x95. With some exceptions, spur routes are numbered with an odd hundreds digit (such as I-395 ), while bypasses and beltways are numbered with an even hundreds digit (such as I-695 ). Because longer Interstates may have many such supplemental routes, the numbers can repeat from state to state along their route, but they will not repeat within
7752-488: The portions from MD 45 to MD 542 (Loch Raven Boulevard), MD 7 (Old Philadelphia Road) to US 40 (Pulaski Highway), and from MD 168 to US 40 (Baltimore National Pike) opening in 1958; the segment from MD 2 (Ritchie Highway) to the Glen Burnie Bypass completed in 1960; the portion from US 1 (Belair Road) to MD 7 finished in 1961; and the portions from MD 542 to US 1 and from US 40 to MD 25 completed in 1962. At this time,
7854-454: The proposed Windlass Freeway. The planned junction of the Windlass and Patapsco freeways, now the point where I-695 makes a sharp turn from west to south, just to the north of where it crosses the Back River, was originally built with provisions for extending the Windlass Freeway to I-95, but this has since been reconfigured as a sharp curve on I-695. The Outer Harbor Crossing is the name given to
7956-690: The provincial capital of Maryland was moved from St. Mary's City along the northern shore of the Potomac River across from the southern colonial border with the Province of Virginia in St. Mary's County farther north along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay , midway in the colony to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Prior to the move, Annapolis was known as "Providence". During the American Revolutionary War , citizens of Anne Arundel County supported
8058-663: The ramp from westbound I-695 to southbound I-695 was completed in July 2009 and the ramp from eastbound I-695 to northbound I-95 opened in August 2009. In addition to rebuilding these ramps, the project also adds four ramps to service the HOT lanes being added to I-95. In April 2024, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved designating the MD ;695 section of
8160-401: The reconstruction of the bridge that carries MD 139 (Charles Street) over I-695. The bridge is decorative, featuring ornamental street lights. As part of the MD 139 project, the interchange was reconstructed, and the traffic circle at the MD 139/I-695 ramps was removed and replaced with a traffic signal. This project cost $ 50 million (equivalent to $ 69 million in 2023) and
8262-521: The remaining left-hand entrances to be removed by August 2009 as part of the construction of the I-95 Express Toll Lane Project; all exits and entrances were now on the right, and I-95's opposing roadways no longer crossed each other (but I-695's still did). Continuing south, soon encounters MD 7 (Philadelphia Road). Between I-95 and MD 7, the route's changes from east–west to north–south. Immediately after MD 7,
8364-568: The road comes to a partial interchange with MD 129 (Park Heights Avenue), with an eastbound exit and westbound entrance. I-695 heads east to another partial interchange with Stevenson Road, which has a westbound exit and eastbound entrance. The Baltimore Beltway passes through heavily forested land as it encounters Greenspring Avenue . Past this interchange, I-695 continues northeast through woodland before coming to an interchange with I-83 ( Jones Falls Expressway ). The interchange includes connections to MD 25 (Falls Road), which heads into
8466-643: The route continues southeast along the Back River into residential and industrial Dundalk , interchanging with Cove Road. The route turns south, with the median briefly widening to include trees, before coming to another interchange with MD 151. Past MD 151, the Baltimore Beltway continues southwest through industrial areas, with maintenance switching to the MDTA at the crossing of a CSX Transportation rail line. It comes to an interchange with MD 157 (Peninsula Expressway) and MD 158 (Bethlehem Boulevard), where
8568-556: The route continues through suburban neighborhoods before coming to an interchange with MD 144 (Frederick Road). At this point, I-695 narrows to seven lanes, with three southbound and four northbound lanes. It continues north and interchanges with Edmondson Avenue before turning northwest and intersecting US 40 (Baltimore National Pike) near the defunct Westview Mall , now a big-box complex. Beyond US 40, I-695 continues north through residential areas, narrowing to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction, before coming to
8670-511: The route encounters the western terminus of MD 43 (White Marsh Boulevard), a limited-access at-grade boulevard that provides access to White Marsh Mall , US 1 and I-95. I-695 turns south past MD 43 and interchanges with US 1 (Belair Road) south of White Marsh. The road continues southeast to an interchange with I-95 ( John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway ) a short distance after US 1 in Rossville . This interchange with I-95 (to
8772-420: The route from MD 2 south of Baltimore clockwise to U.S. Route 40 (US 40) northeast of the city opened in stages from 1955 to 1962, providing an Interstate bypass of Baltimore. It was the first beltway in the US to be built as part of the Interstate Highway System. Plans were made to finish the remainder of the route, with a diversion to the Windlass and Patapsco freeways, opened in 1973, following
8874-461: The route interchanges with US 40 (Pulaski Highway) northwest of Essex near The Centre at Golden Ring . After US 40, I-695 crosses over CSX Transportation's Philadelphia Subdivision and comes to a partial directional interchange with MD 702 (Southeast Boulevard). At this interchange, I-695 turns south onto the Windlass Freeway , crossing over the Northeast Corridor again within
8976-625: The route's signage changes from north–south to east–west. Past this interchange, the Baltimore Beltway continues west and returns to the Curtis Creek drawbridges. As opposed to I-495 ( Capital Beltway ) around Washington, D.C. , on which exit numbers are generally arranged by mileposts counterclockwise starting at the southern crossing of the Potomac River, the exit numbers for the Baltimore Beltway are arranged consecutively clockwise starting at interchange 1 at Quarantine Road, west of
9078-415: The same Interstate, some states treat these as bypasses while others treat these as spurs—see Spur route above. A beltway (also known as a loop route ) completely surrounds a metropolitan city, and it is often connected with multiple junctions to other routes. Unlike other auxiliary Interstate Highways (and by extension, all primary Interstate Highways ), beltways do not have termini; however, they have
9180-421: The same years Maryland conducts its gubernatorial and legislative elections, and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Democrats have the most registered voters in the county, but the large number of Republican -leaning independents means Republicans win more county-wide elections than in other mostly suburban counties in Maryland, but Democrats are the dominant party in Annapolis city elections. In
9282-475: The section of the Baltimore Beltway between south of MD 150 to west of the Back River crossing was not built, requiring it be rerouted on portions of two freeways not originally planned to be part of it. The first was the Windlass Freeway ( MD 149 ), a route planned to run from I-95 at Moravia Road northeast to Chase , paralleling US 40 to the south. The only portion of the Windlass Fwy constructed
9384-412: The segment of the Baltimore Beltway maintained by the MDTA. It consists of the segment of I-695 between exit 40 (MD 151) and exit 2 (MD 10), which included the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The route was originally planned as a two-lane freeway on a four-lane right-of-way , with a two-lane outer harbor tunnel across the Patapsco River. When the tunnel was advertised for construction in 1970,
9486-526: The southern suburbs, in Glen Burnie . This interchange has access to northbound MD 2 in both directions and from northbound MD 2 to the westbound direction. Beyond MD 2, I-695 encounters I-895B , a short connector to I-895 (Harbor Tunnel Thruway); this interchange provides access to southbound MD 2 from both directions and to the eastbound direction from southbound MD 2. Immediately past this interchange, I-695 comes to an interchange with
9588-516: The system. In other cases, it may not be possible to use the proper number because the limited set of available numbers has been exhausted, causing a "non-standard" number to be used. A spur route 's number usually has an odd number for its first digit. It is usually one of the following: Examples include: Sometimes, a three-digit Interstate Highway branches off from another three-digit Interstate Highway. These spurs do not connect directly with their parent highways, but are associated with them via
9690-472: The three-digit highways they do intersect with. Examples include: A bypass route may traverse around a city, or may run through it with the mainline bypassing. In a typical 3-digit Interstate Highway, bypasses usually have both its two termini junctioned with another Interstate highway. Bypass routes are preceded by an even number in the first digit. Examples include: In the case of an auxiliary Interstate highway which has both ends at Interstates but not
9792-488: The unincorporated town of Jessup in Anne Arundel County, including: The District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) operates the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, a secure youth prison, in the county. Oak Hill Youth Center, the previous DYRS secure facility, was also in the county. Fort George G. Meade is a large U.S. Army post located in the northwest of
9894-493: Was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis , which is also the capital of the state. The county is named for Anne Arundell ( c. 1615 /1616–1649), Lady Baltimore, a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall , England , and the wife of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), founder and first lord proprietor of the colony Province of Maryland . The county
9996-417: Was completed in 2012. At exit 33 (I-95/John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway), both highways had crossed over themselves so that through traffic was on the left side of the road with left-hand entrance/exit ramps connecting the crossover sections. This interchange was replaced in 2014 by a more conventional flyover ramp interchange as part of the I-95 expansion project under construction since 2007, eliminating
10098-449: Was dedicated in honor of former Governor Theodore McKeldin in May 2005. During his term, McKeldin was responsible for constructing the Beltway and other state highways. Most Marylanders still refer to the highway as the "Baltimore Beltway", "695", or (mainly among Baltimore metro area residents) simply "The Beltway", like its Washington, D.C. counterpart. In March 2009, construction began on
10200-487: Was officially Maryland Route 695 ( MD 695 ) and was not part of the Interstate Highway System but is signed as I-695. The Francis Scott Key Bridge that crossed over the Patapsco River was included in this section of the route before the bridge's collapse on March 26, 2024 . The bridge and its approaches were maintained by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), while the remainder of
10302-518: Was originally part of St. Mary's County , the province's first erected county in the southern portion of the Province of Maryland , which had first been established by arriving settlers in 1634. In 1650, the year after Lady Ann Arundell's death, the county separated from St. Mary's and "erected" into its own jurisdiction and became the third of the 23 Maryland counties . It was composed of the hundreds of Town Neck, Middle Neck, Broad Neck, South River, West River, and Herring Creek. Between 1654 and 1658,
10404-498: Was reconstructed in 2014 to accommodate express toll lanes that were added to I-95, and construction took place in 2016 to remove I-695's carriageway crossovers here. Starting at the zero milepost in Baltimore , I-695, which is maintained by the MDTA , is four lanes wide. The route passes over Curtis Creek on a pair of drawbridges here, which have 58 feet (18 m) of vertical navigational clearance and provide access for tall ships to
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