Hot asphalt summer: Here are the road improvement projects likely to cause drivers headaches

It’s paving season, Maryland. That means orange cones, fresh asphalt and, yes, periodic slowdowns as construction crews make your future commutes and road trips a bit smoother.

Cold weather is no bueno for getting asphalt to stay on the ground. That’s why crews fan out in the spring and summer to rush through as many miles as possible.

So, when the weather turns balmy, they race to neighborhoods milling and repaving streets. But they also dive deep on big, yearslong projects, such as improving interstates, that could delay your arrival to that summer getaway.

So here are some of the hot spots where you’ll want to leave early and plan ahead:

I-695

For many Central Marylanders, a road trip out west on Interstate 70, a jaunt southeast to Ocean City or a visit to New York up Interstate 95 all start with the same, dreadful highway.

Yes, there is still construction on the Beltway. No, it won’t be finished this year.

The State Highway Administration is converting the inside shoulders from the interchange with I-70 in the west to the interchange with I-95 in the northeast into peak-hour travel lanes. The construction zone stretches 19 miles.

About 62% of the project is complete, according to state officials. Once the $192 million project is finished in 2028, state officials hope it will ease congestion.

Traffic management signs similar to those used on the Bay Bridge (think the red X’s and green arrows) will indicate when the shoulder can serve as an extra travel lane.

But for now expect lower speed limits, possible lane closures and delays during rush hours, particularly on weekends.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Wonder what that big crane floating in the Chesapeake near Maryland’s most iconic bridge is for?

Crews have been using it for a couple of years to replace the deck of the eastbound Bay Bridge span. The $252 million project has one major phase left that will wrap in late 2027. It’s critical to keeping the 74-year-old bridge in working order until both spans of the bridge are replaced in the coming decades.

But don’t worry, it likely won’t make your trip down the ocean much worse.

Construction crews will work exclusively during overnight hours throughout the summer, as they have since the project started, Maryland Transportation Authority spokesperson Brad Tanner said. Crews will shut down the eastbound bridge span from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. daily while the wider, westbound span handles two-way traffic.

Bridge traffic throughout the day on weekends can be a sea of brake lights over the summer as Marylanders flock to Ocean City. Travelers can call 1-877-229-7726 (BAYSPAN) for real-time traffic updates.

I-95

State transportation officials have another big project in the works: extending the northbound I-95 tolled express lanes in Harford County.

Work is complete on 7 miles in Baltimore County of the $1.1 billion project aimed at relieving congestion along the I-95 corridor. Construction to extend the tolled lanes to the interstate’s interchange with MD-24 is about 90% complete, and the lanes are expected to open by the end of 2027.

Drivers will notice — and may have to slow down with — a new traffic pattern on the southbound side of the expressway near that interchange. That will be in effect through the fall to allow for construction of a new bridge ramp.

As with any road work zone, be aware of automated speed cameras that can issue tickets.

In your neighborhoods

Scores of smaller projects are happening across Maryland.

A recent report from think tank Transportation for America found 18% of Maryland’s roads fell into poor condition from 2018-24, a larger slip than any other state during that time.

A March report from national research group TRIP found that roughly 30% of the state’s roads were in poor condition. And Baltimoreans have it worse — about 41% of their roads were labeled deficient, the report indicates.

The State Highway Administration plans this year to resurface 700 lane miles and perform maintenance on 2,300 lane miles of roadway. The SHA is responsible for roughly 15,000 miles of road across Maryland.

In Baltimore, where the local transportation department handles nearly all road maintenance, the resurfacing goal is 90.5 lane miles — less than 2% of the citywide roadway total.

Some notable projects to look out for:

• Resurfacing 6 miles of MD-175 in Howard County between US-29 and Washington Boulevard. Overnight lane closures are in effect from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. through July. They’re also widening the MD-175 interchange with MD-295 just a few miles to the southeast.

• New pavement, upgraded stormwater management facilities and pedestrian improvements along 2 miles of Ritchie Highway in Anne Arundel County

• Improving the driving surface along a half-mile section of York Road just south of the Towson Circle in Baltimore County. Construction is expected to continue into next year.

• Crews are putting the finishing touches on pedestrian and cyclist improvements along 2.5 miles of University Boulevard in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, due to finish by the end of the year.

Marylanders can view an interactive map and get more information about the state’s more than 250 active projects on the State Highway Administration’s project portal page.