Traffic Advisory: Full Closures of Jones Falls Expressway To Begin Thursday Evening, May 3

                       

                                                                      
     Traffic Advisory








Contact: Adrienne Barnes
Kathy Chopper
(410) 361-9296

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 01, 2012 

Full Closures of the Jones Falls Expressway

To Begin Thursday Evening

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists that overnight closures along the Jones Falls Expressway will begin on Thursday evening in the vicinity of 29^th Street. These overnight closures are needed for emergency repairs to collapsed drainage pipes that are located underneath of the expressway, which have caused significant washout and undermining conditions.

Beginning on Thursday, May 03, 2012 a full closure of the northbound Jones Falls Expressway will be implemented in the vicinity of 29^th Street from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. with detours in effect. This full closure along the northbound side of the Jones Falls Expressway will be implemented nightly through Monday, May 07, 2012.

During the closure, northbound traffic will be detoured onto the North Avenue/28^th Street exit and then to the 28^th Street ramp. Motorists should continue left on Sisson Street and left on 29^th Street, back to northbound Jones Falls Expressway.

In addition to the full closure of the expressway on the northbound side, a temporary double left lane closure will be implemented along the southbound Jones Falls Expressway on Thursday evening. On Thursday, May 03, 2012 a double left lane closure will be implemented along the southbound Jones Falls Expressway in the vicinity of 29^th Street from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.

  

Once all of the closures are lifted, a single left lane closure will remain in effect in each direction along the expressway until construction is complete. Repair work is expected to take approximately six to eight weeks. However, the duration of construction is uncertain at this time, and the lane closures could extend beyond this period.

As repair work progresses, adjacent lanes of travel may be narrowed through the construction zone for the safety of work crews. In addition, adjacent travel lanes and full closures of the expressway may be implemented during evening and late night hours.

These closures will cause significant delays along the expressway, particularly during the morning and afternoon peak hours. To avoid delays during construction, motorists are strongly advised to use alternate routes when trying to access the downtown area during peak hours. Commuters should also consider using alternate modes of travel including the Light Rail and Metro Subway. If possible, motorists should modify their travel times to “come early and stay late" in order to avoid delays.

TRANSIT OPTIONS:  The MTA operates the Metro which serves Northwest Baltimore City and County, and the Central Light Rail which serves points north. Note that the Metro and Light Rail are completely unaffected by traffic conditions. In addition, there are several express and local bus options. Transit information is available by calling 410-539-5000 or at www.mtamaryland.gov.

ALTERNATE ROUTES:  For those who continue drive, there are a number of alternate routes that can be utilized:

• For motorists coming to or from Northwest Baltimore or northwest Baltimore County (including Pikesville, Reisterstown and Randallstown), alternate routes are Liberty Road/Liberty Heights Avenue, Reisterstown Road and Park Heights Avenue.
  
• For motorists coming to or from North Baltimore City or County (including Towson, Timonium and Cockeysville), alternate routes are Charles Street, York Road and Loch Raven Boulevard.
  
• For motorists coming to or from Northeast Baltimore City and County (including Parkville, Overlea and Perry Hall), alternate routes are Hillen Road/Perring Parkway, Harford Road and Belair Road.

The discovery of this safety hazard highlights not only the importance of routine maintenance and inspection, but the need for continued investment in our aging public infrastructure. 

Baltimore City Department of Transportation:

“Keeping Baltimore Moving Safely”