Express Toll Lane Extension Into Harford Prompts Public Meetings

JOPPA, MD — The express toll lanes on Interstate 95 are going to be extending into Harford County, and transportation officials will provide information about the project at a pair of upcoming meetings. There will be two opportunities for citizens to hear about the plans and ask questions.

One public meeting will be Feb. 26 in Joppa, and the other will be on Feb. 27 in Perry Hall.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in December announced plans to ease congestion on the Interstate 95 corridor between Harford and Baltimore counties.

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In the northeast corridor of I-95, the plan is to extend the express toll lanes that stop near I-95 at MD 43 into Harford County, so they continue until the exit for MD 24.

The $210 million project will add 7.75 miles to the express toll lanes as well as make improvements to the highway, including adding capacity and reconstruction of overpasses.

The express toll lanes will be complete by December 2022, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).

In addition to the toll lanes, the MDTA says there will be improvements made to that stretch of I-95 to allow it to better handle traffic. A fifth lane of travel will be added from Little Gunpowder Falls to MD 152 to MD 24.

The project calls for modifying the MD 24/MD 924 ramp as well.

Improvements to the Old Joppa Road and Bradshaw Road overpasses are part of the plan, and the MDTA will provide information about construction and detours during the public meetings.

Four noise walls will be installed, and officials will explain where they will go.

Five bridges that are more than 50 years old will be rehabilitated or replaced, according to the MDTA.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2019 for the project as a whole, while individual parts may be staggered.

The project team will be on hand at the two upcoming informational meetings, where the public will may ask questions and share ideas. Comment forms will be available at the meetings.

The public meetings will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Hall, 1403 Old Joppa Road, Joppa, MD 21085; and from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the American Legion, 8666 Silver Lake Drive, Perry Hall, MD 21128.

There are other ways to get information and share feedback about the express toll lane project. Visit the MDTA's website about the northeast express toll lanes.

Submit comments online until 11:45 p.m. on March 26.

Mail comments in writing to:

Maryland Transportation Authority
Attn: William N. Pines, PE
Director of Project Development
Office of Engineering and Construction
8019 Corporate Drive, Suite F
Nottingham, MD 21236

Image of express toll lanes courtesy of the MDTA.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated.