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I-695 Southwest Outer Loop Widening (I-95 to MD 144)
Welcome Background The Project Project Information
The Project
The proposed improvements cover a 3.6 mile segment with 2.7 miles along I-695 and a 0.9 mile section along ramps to I-95 northbound and southbound. The project involves adding one through lane on the outer loop of the Beltway as well as reconfiguring several interchanges to meet current safety criteria.
The project includes roadway widening, work on bridges, retaining walls, and noise barriers:
Roadways
- The widening will accommodate one new through-travel lane beginning as an extension of the Frederick Road entrance ramp and continuing south to I-95 southbound. In addition, from south of the Wilkens Avenue (MD 372) Interchange to just beyond the I-695/I-95 split, the outer loop will be widened to provide an additional 12-foot wide auxiliary lane and shoulder.
- The existing median shoulder will be widened to a maximum width of 25 feet to accommodate a 13-foot wide shoulder, and a 12-foot wide future lane.
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Bridges
- I-695 over Wilkens Avenue - replacement of the existing Outer Loop structure
- I-695 over Leeds Avenue/Southwestern Boulevard/Amtrak - replacement of the existing Outer Loop structure
- I-695 over Benson Avenue - replacement of the existing Outer Loop structure
- Westland Boulevard over I-695 - replacement of the entire structure.
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Retaining Walls
- Nine new retaining walls will be constructed to minimize the need for additional right-of-way and to minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas (streams, wetlands, etc.) or historical properties.
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Noise Barriers
- Two new noise barriers will be constructed, one along the Inner Loop at Kenwood Road and one along the Outer Loop at Kenwood Avenue, to mitigate noise levels.
- The locations and alignments of the existing Outer Loop noise barriers will be modified to allow the construction of the widened roadway. The level of noise mitigation afforded by the existing noise barriers will remain following completion of the construction project.
- At several locations, existing gaps between the Outer Loop noise barriers will be closed to provide a continuous noise barrier system.
- The existing Outer Loop noise barrier adjacent to Leeds Avenue will be extended to tie into the end of the new bridge.
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This project will also include the following improvements to the Wilkens Avenue, Southwestern Boulevard, and I-95 Interchanges:
Wilkens Avenue (MD 372) Interchange Improvements
- The exit ramp from I-695 Outer Loop to Wilkens Avenue will be reconstructed to accommodate the I-695 widening. The geometry is being improved to address safety concerns. The existing ramp is posted for a 20 mph speed limit. The proposed geometry improves the design speed on the ramp to 25 mph. The ramp will also be widened to provide two left turn lanes onto westbound Wilkens Avenue.
- The entrance ramp from Wilkens Avenue to I-695 Outer Loop will be reconstructed to accommodate the I-695 widening.
- The intersection of the ramps and Wilkens Avenue will be shifted slightly to the west and a new signal will be constructed to accommodate the I-695 widening.
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Southwestern Boulevard (US 1)/Leeds Avenue Interchange Improvements
- The existing ramp from I-695 Outer Loop to Southwestern Boulevard (US 1) and Leeds Avenue will be reconstructed to accommodate the I-695 widening.
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I-95 Interchange Improvements
- An additional 12-foot wide lane will be added to the existing two-lane exit ramp from I-695 towards I-95 northbound and southbound. An additional 12-foot wide lane will be added to the existing one-lane exit ramp to I-95 northbound and an additional 12-foot wide lane will be added to the existing one-lane exit ramp to I-95 southbound. The ramp to Sulphur Spring Road will be realigned to accommodate the widening of the ramp to I-95 southbound.
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