As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and the $27 million Bay Bridge deck rehabilitation project continues, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is reminding motorists to travel during off-peak hours, stay alert and plan ahead to avoid travel delays. MDTA expects that between Tuesday, November 26, and Sunday, December 1, more than 3.4 million travelers will use its highways, bridges and tunnels, a slight increase compared to last year’s Thanksgiving holiday period. Based on traffic counts from previous years, Wednesday, November 27, is expected to be the heaviest travel day of the week.
“We’re expecting nearly 465,000 vehicles to cross the Bay Bridge during the holiday week, and so we’re urging travelers to go early, stay late, and cross the bridge during our recommended travel times, when we expect the least number of vehicles,” said MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports. “Stay alert for your safety and the safety of our work crews who are giving up holiday time. And with the holidays upon us, please be courteous to other drivers.”
Best times to travel Interstate 95
In addition to Bay Bridge advisories, MDTA is reminding motorists using I-95 to travel these off-peak hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday, November 26-27, before 6 a.m. and after 11 p.m.
- Thursday and Friday, November 28-29, before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, November 29-30, before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
Holiday travelers are reminded that all-electronic tolling is now in effect at all times on the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695) in Baltimore and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40) at the Harford and Cecil counties line. Tolls are collected via E-ZPass or video tolling.
MDTA Police will remain vigilant over the holidays and will target impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers. The agency is reminding all motorists to buckle up, every seat, every time. According to the Maryland Highway Safety Office, crashes kill more than 120 unbelted drivers and passengers every year in Maryland.
MDTA will lift construction-related temporary lane closures on its roadways from 5 a.m. Wednesday, November 27, to 9 a.m. Monday, December 2 – except at the Bay Bridge. MDTA Police and Vehicle Recovery Units will have additional patrols on duty to respond quickly to incidents and disabled vehicles. Motorists should move over when approaching an emergency, transportation, service and utility vehicle or tow truck with red, yellow or amber flashing lights. If you are unable to move over, slow down.
For more I-95 travel information, visit www.i95exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to I-95, America’s Interstate Main Street. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Maine to Florida! Plus I-95 construction, real-time traffic and road news.
Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-4 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide , and I-75 Exit Guide.
