I-70 Bridge Repair Is Complete

HOWARD COUNTY, MD – Emergency bridge repairs on Interstate 70 have ended, Maryland State Police reported Sunday morning. Work on the bridge over the Patapsco River, between Howard and Baltimore counties, prompted lane closures and major delays in the area Friday and Saturday.

During the bridge work, traffic got by in the left lane only, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Detours onto US 40 Saturday caused congestion on area roads, and state police said extra troopers were deployed in the area of the I-70 park and ride after drivers were going the wrong way to get around traffic.

By 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, the Maryland State Highway Administration reported all lanes were open on I-70, and the bridge work had been completed.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Drivers are encouraged to use routes other than Interstate 70 if traveling through Howard County near the Baltimore County line over the next few days. An emergency bridge repair over the Patapsco River is underway, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Two right lanes are closed on the westbound side of the I-70 bridge, where only the left lane gets by, officials say.

Since lane closures may continue through the weekend on I-70, state highway officials encouraged drivers to take US 40 as an alternate route and said that traffic signals on westbound US 40/Baltimore National Pike will be adjusted to allow longer through-traffic in Catonsville.

These are alternate routes that state highway officials suggest instead of I-70 between Howard and Baltimore counties:

• US 40 west to US 29 north to I-70 west
• Liberty Road west to MD 32 to I-70 west

Because of the lane closures and the fact that 105,000 vehicles travel this section of I-70 daily, officials say that there will likely be delays in the area.

Those in I-695 are feeling the impact. Here is a look at I-695 as of 9:30 p.m. on Friday, courtesy of the CHART traffic camera:

And here it was at rush hour:

TRAFFIC ALERT | Two lanes are closed on I-70 for emergency repairs on the Patapsco River bridge.

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— FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) August 10, 2018

Photo of the bridge work courtesy of the Maryland State Highway Administration.