I-895 Tunnel to Become Two-Way Traffic on Weekends Until April


The southbound bore of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895) will be closed continuously over the weekends for the remainder of March through the weekend of April 3. Two-way traffic (one lane in each direction) will operate in the northbound bore. Motorists are reminded to obey speed limits and stay in your lane.

Weather permitting, the southbound bore will be closed:
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, March 23;
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, March 30;
• From 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, April 6.

The closures are part of the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) three year, $189 million project to replace the 60-year-old I-895 Bridge and the Holabird Avenue exit ramp north of the Harbor Tunnel. and rehabilitate the Harbor Tunnel. The project began in April 2018 and is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

Beginning this weekend, weather permitting, the southbound bridge will close and two-way traffic will operate on the newly rebuilt northbound bridge, with one lane open in each direction. Later this spring, the southbound bore of the Harbor Tunnel will close 24/7 for 60 days, with two-way traffic operating in the northbound bore. For details, visit 895bmore.com.

MD General Assembly Finally OKs Funding for Northeast County Schools


The Maryland General Assembly passed HB 1 on Tuesday evening that will help fund school construction projects across the state. Baltimore County will receive additional $400 million in school construction funding from the bill.

This includes three northeast Baltimore County school projects; a new elementary school in the Rossville area, a new middle school at Nottingham Park on King Avenue and to expand Pine Grove Middle School in Carney.

The three northeast projects were planned several years ago to alleviate overcrowding, but those projects hit a few road bumps when Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. announced a budget shortfall in early 2019.

An original construction bill that would have funded the three projects was introduced in the 2019 General Assembly. That bill passed in the House of Delegates but never received a vote in a Senate committee.

The bill again passed through the House of Delegates on Feb. 14, but it appeared to be looming again in the Senate.

With the arrival of the coronavirus forcing the session into a three-week early adjournment, some were fearful that the bill might be a casualty as a result of the shorter session.

But northeast Baltimore County residents received the good news when the bill passed through the Senate 45 to 0 on Tuesday. Councilman David Marks has been an advocate for new schools in his district. He said this funding will help with overcrowded schools in his district.

“Thank you to the Senators who represent parts of the Fifth District – Chris West, Kathy Klausmeier, and J.B. Jennings – for their support,” Mark said in a statement. “The Build to Learn Act will help advance two new schools in the northeast, expand Pine Grove Middle School, and put us on a path to build new high schools throughout the county.

The funding will be finalized when Gov. Larry Hogan, who requested the legislation, signs the bill into law.