I-70 Reopens After BGE Repairs Utility Lines: Officials

Interstate 70 has reopened after utility lines were repaired Tuesday afternoon, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. High-voltage wires over the interstate had become unstable, officials said, and BGE was called to fix the hazardous situation.

The repair resulted in a closure that lasted a little more than an hour Tuesday.

I-70 was closed around 12:15 p.m. between the exits for I-695 and US 29, impacting traffic in Baltimore and Howard counties.

After 1:30 p.m., state highway officials said BGE had completed the repair and the road had reopened.

The temporary closure of I-70 came on the heels of another repair that caused major delays in the area.

On Friday and Saturday, emergency repair work on the I-70 bridge over the Patapsco River resulted in lane closures near the Baltimore-Howard county line. That work was completed by Sunday morning.

PREVIOUS REPORT (EXPIRED): Major delays are expected around Interstate 70 Tuesday afternoon. The interstate will be closed between I-695 and US 29 for a repair issue, the Maryland State Highway Administration advised.

High-voltage wires that were over I-70 became unstable just west of I-695, officials reported.

Both directions of I-70 are closed between I-695 and US 29 to that BGE can address the issue, officials said as of 12:15 p.m.

Authorities suggest taking US 40, MD 144 or MD 26 as alternate routes.

Here is the latest closure information from state transportation officials.

UPDATE - I-70 is now closed in both directions as BGE begins repairs to overhead high-voltage lines. #mdotnews #mdtraffic cg pic.twitter.com/E7d6lzwe1D
— MD State Highway Adm (@MDSHA) August 14, 2018

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE #HoCoMD. https://t.co/BnCI4804Yb
— Howard County Gov't (@HoCoGov) August 14, 2018

Images via CHART as of 12:10 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14.