Interstate 695 (Maryland)

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Interstate 695 (abbreviated I-695) is a 51.59-mile-long full beltway Interstate highway extending around Baltimore, Maryland. I-695 is officially designated the McKeldin Beltway, but is colloquially known as the Baltimore Beltway. Construction began on the Beltway in 1962.

The Baltimore Beltway serves the suburbs of Glen Burnie and Linthicum in Anne Arundel County. It serves Lansdowne, Baltimore Highlands, Halethorpe, Arbutus, Lochearn, Catonsville, Woodlawn, Pikesville, Brooklandville, Towson, Parkville, White Marsh, Essex, Sparrows Point and Dundalk in Baltimore County. It also passes through the southernmost tip of the city of Baltimore for a brief duration.

As opposed to the I-495 Capital Beltway around Washington, D.C., whose 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 Rd, south of the Francis Scott Key Bridge crossing of the Patapsco River, and the only interchange in Baltimore City.

The Beltway was dedicated in honor of former Governor Theodore R. McKeldin in May of 2005. McKeldin was responsible for the construction of the Beltway and other state highways during his term. Most Marylanders still refer to the highway as the "Baltimore Beltway," "695," or (mostly among Baltimore metro area residents) simply "The Beltway," like its Washington counterpart.

On June 8, 1999, a tractor-trailer carrying a backhoe that exceeded the maximum height requirement struck a pedestrian footbridge over the Beltway in the southwestern corner, just northwest of the Interstate 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 since November 1996 because of community complaints about vandalism and crime on the span.

Signage

• I-695 is signed north and east from Maryland Route 295 (the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) near Ferndale.Signage for I-695 on [MD 295 north] and [MD 295 south]
• I-695 is signed east and south from Interstate 795 (the Northwest Expressway) near Pikesville.[Signage for I-695 on I-795 south]
• I-695 is signed south and west from a point between Interstate 95 (JFK Memorial Highway) and Maryland Route 702 (Southeast Boulevard) near Essex.Signage on [I-695 north at MD 702]
• I-695 is signed west and north from the area of the Key Bridge near Dundalk.Signage on [I-695 north after the bridge], [I-695 south approaching the bridge], [I-695 west after the bridge] and [I-695 east approaching the bridge]

Outer Harbor Crossing: Francis Scott Key Bridge

Exit list

Interstate 97 south - Annapolis; Bay Bridge

Interstate 895 north - Tunnel

U.S. Route 1 Alternate - Washington Boulevard

Interstate 95 - Baltimore; Washington, DC

U.S. Route 1 - Southwestern Boulevard; Arbutus

U.S. Route 40 - Baltimore; Ellicott City

Interstate 70 - Frederick; Park & Ride

Interstate 795 - Northwest Expressway; Owings Mills; Reisterstown

Interstate 83 south - Baltimore

Interstate 83 north - Timonium; York, PA

U.S. Route 1 - Overlea; Bel Air

Interstate 95 - Baltimore; Washington, DC; New York, NY

U.S. Route 40 - Pulaski Highway; Baltimore; Aberdeen

Interstate 695 north - Dundalk Marine Terminal; Seagirt Marine Terminal (Maryland Route 695C)

References