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12/26/07 |
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One Year Later - Labor Day 2006 It's been a year ago since I made the trip to the Baltimore/Washington area to register the copyright for my websites. So, I decided to relive the trip I made back in 2005 over the Labor Day weekend in 2006! The only thing different was that I did not have business to tend to (other than the minor fiasco with a MySpace user over the unauthorized use of an image from my Interstate275Florida.com site). Since I gave you the details of the trip going to Baltimore and coming back to Tampa on Southwest Airlines in the 2005 trip I won't repeat it again - instead, we'll jump right into the trip to Baltimore one year later in 2006. Besides, the flight going to and coming back was smooth as always. Sunday, 3 September 2006 After arriving the day before, I have breakfast as always and then I set out to explore some areas I have not seen yet plus some areas I have already seen. Just after I get my rental car and settle into my hotel room at the Hampton Inn BWI Airport I made a side trip to Glen Burnie, a suburb of Baltimore just next to Linthicum, to pick up a toll tag to use on toll roads and bridges not only throughout Maryland but throughout the northeastern United States that participate in EZ-Pass. It's called EZ-Pass On The Go and you can pick one up at participating grocery stores and other locations throughout Maryland. Once you buy an EZ-Pass you register your tag at the EZ-Pass Maryland website (it's like setting up a Florida SunPass account, only this time it's another toll agency). Whoa! I already have a SunPass! Unfortunately, SunPass works only at participating toll facilities throughout Florida and not out of state. Don't we Floridians wish SunPass would be accepted out of state including Maryland? After registering the EZ-Pass I placed it on the right hand corner of the windshield away from the electronic compass so that I can have it ready to go. Besides, having an EZ-Pass is helpful if you are traveling in the northeastern United States, at least until EZ-Pass and SunPass achieve interoperability status. After breakfast it's off to explore on northbound Interstate 95 and other places, as you will see in the links to the pictures shown below. Pictures from 3 September 2006 Left exit overhead for Exit 49B, Interstate 695 west to Towson. Motorists headed to Interstates 70 or 83 should use Exit 49B. I believe this overhead was erected not too long ago. We have cleared the Baltimore metro area, and we are approaching Exit 85, MD 22 to Aberdeen and Churchville. This exit is north of the Maryland House service plaza on Interstate 95 north. Final opportunity to exit at MD 22. Also notice the signage to New York City on Interstate 95 north. Another service plaza is coming up in 9 miles, and that is the Chesapeake House service plaza. Like the Maryland House and the service plazas on the Florida Turnpike, access is from the left lane. Exit 89, MD 155 to Havre de Grace. This is the last opportunity to exit Interstate 95 before the toll plaza. Another caveat: If you think you can get away with not paying a toll by exiting here and proceeding to US 40 (which basically parallels Interstate 95 here), you are wrong as the bridge on US 40 that parallels Interstate 95 crossing the Susquehanna River, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, is also a toll facility as well. So, basically no matter which way you go you will have to pay a toll somewhere. Final opportunity to exit at MD 155 before the toll plaza, just after crossing the Susquehanna River. Looking downstream on the Susquehanna River as we make our way on Interstate 95 north. You can see the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge in the far background. Exit 93, MD 222 to Perryville and Port Deposit, is coming up in one mile. But first, we have to pay the toll that's coming up just ahead. Signage informing motorists of the toll plaza immediately ahead with a dedicated lane for EZ-Pass holders. Vehicles over 5 tons are restricted to the right hand toll lanes. Here's the toll plaza just after crossing the Susquehanna River. The toll is a steep $5.00 and is payable by cash or EZ-Pass. Sorry, Maryland doesn't take Florida SunPass. The toll is actually a highway toll with Interstate 95 being part of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway with the $5.00 toll only being collected from northbound traffic. On the other hand, southbound traffic on Interstate 95 does not pay a toll. MD 272 is 5 miles ahead, while New York City is another 154 miles away. Remember the signage for the Chesapeake House earlier? Here it is! This is on Interstate 95 north. Exit 100, MD 272 to North East and Rising Sun. Exit 109, MD 279 to Elkton and Newark, DE. This is the last exit on Interstate 95 in Maryland before crossing the border into Delaware. We have left Maryland (for a while, at least) and we have crossed into Delaware, the home of tax free shopping. Notice that the speed limit on Interstate 95 has dropped from 65 mph to 55 mph. Welcome to Delaware! You are greeted by the first toll plaza on Interstate 95 north, as this is the Delaware Turnpike. Toll is only $3.00, payable by cash or Maryland EZ-Pass or another state's participating EZ-Pass. Sorry, like Maryland, Delaware does not take Florida SunPass! Cars stay to the left while trucks and buses stay to the right. You are also warned: Toll violations in Delaware carry a $25.00 fine, unlike the steep $100.00 fine in Florida if you are caught evading toll. Digital cameras are there for your protection. Now that we have cleared the toll plaza, our first exit in Delaware is Exit 1, DE 896 to Newark and Middletown. You can reach the University of Delaware campus from Exit 1 as well. Our next Delaware exit is Exit 3, DE 273 to Dover and Newark coming up in two miles. By the way, Dover is Delaware's equivalent of Tallahassee being the state capital. Final opportunity for Exit 3 on Interstate 95 north. Advance signage for Exit 4, DE 1 and DE 7 to Christiana. Here we have the best of both sign worlds, Florida style signage on the right and Georgia style signage on the left minus the squared corners on the left sign. Exit 5, DE 141 to New Castle and Newport coming up in one mile. The exit for Exit 5A, DE 141 south to New Castle and advance signage for Interstate 295 north to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike leading to New York City. Traffic headed to Wilmington and/or Philadelphia should continue on Interstate 95 north. Now that we are on Interstate 295 north, we come up on advance signage for US 13 north to Wilmington and US 13 south and US 40 west to the New Castle Airport and Dover. US 40 east will be joining us on Interstate 295 for the trip on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Huge through signage for Interstate 295 north and US 40 east to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, while advance signage is posted for DE 9 to New Castle and Wilmington. Also notice that the offices for the Delaware River and Bay Authority (the entity responsible for the operation of the Delaware Memorial Bridge) as well as an EZ-Pass Delaware customer service center are reached from this exit. Additionally, DE 9 is the last exit before the toll plaza for the bridge. Last chance to exit Interstate 295 before the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Entering the Delaware Memorial Bridge on Interstate 295 northbound. Ascending the Delaware Memorial Bridge as we cross the Delaware River. Lane control signals mounted on a decorative overhead support as we get ready to cross the summit of the bridge, which according to the bridge authority's website is 200 feet high. It's just about the same height as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A great view of the twin towers of the Delaware Memorial Bridge as we begin our descent into New Jersey. The architectural style of the towers remind me of the main tower piers of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge, only the arch is wider. Making our descent from the Delaware Memorial Bridge into New Jersey. As the electronic message sign indicates, welcome to New Jersey. We are officially onto New Jersey soil and signage advising motorists headed to Atlantic City to use US 40 east. Signage for our first exit in New Jersey, Exit 1A, NJ 49 east to Pennsville and Salem. Also notice the advance signage for the New Jersey Turnpike and New York City as well as the continuation of Interstate 295 to Camden and Trenton. Advance signage for Exit 1B, US 130 north to Penns Grove. The New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 split at this point. Now that we are on the New Jersey Turnpike, we bid adieu to US 40 east as it makes its way to Atlantic City. The first toll plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound coming up in two miles. The New Jersey Turnpike is a ticket system similar to the ticket system on the section of the Florida Turnpike from south of Kissimmee to Lantana (north of West Palm Beach). Toll is payable by cash or by EZ-Pass. On the subject of the New Jersey Turnpike, what's with the Interstate 95 gap? Back in Maryland on Interstate 95 we have seen signage for New York City as a control city rather than the next logical control city, Philadelphia. Why is this? The signage for New York City on Interstate 95 in Maryland is based on motorists headed to The Big Apple by way of the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike, bypassing the Philadelphia metro area. North of Philadelphia on Interstate 95 and once you cross into New Jersey at Trenton (New Jersey's equivalent of Tallahassee) Interstate 95 evaporates into thin air and reappears on the New Jersey Turnpike because of a gap inbetween the completed sections. Had the Interstate 95 gap been completed in New Jersey, I believe that Interstate 95 would be a virtually toll free alternative between Philadelphia and New York City. However, it is believed that strong local opposition in the communities where the route of Interstate 95 would have taken place has prevailed and the plans for this section of Interstate 95 have been shelved. Presently there are plans in place to close the Interstate 95 gap by rerouting Interstate 95 by having it multiplex with Interstate 276 for the trip across the Delaware River and into New Jersey and multiplexing with the New Jersey Turnpike for the trip to New York City and beyond. This would be accomplished by reconstruction of interchanges along the route to make Interstate 95 more of a through route rather than using a series of low speed entrance and exit ramps as part of a mainline interstate route. The resulting extant section of Interstate 95 from Interstate 276 into Trenton I believe would get a three-digit Interstate x95 designation. Here is a link to a well done page on the Interstate 95 missing link in New Jersey. Other than studying the maps of the area and reading what I know about the Interstate 95 missing link to date, I welcome any comments and/or corrections on this subject. You can leave your comment simply by clicking on over to my feedback page. Another Welcome to New Jersey sign, this time a fixed rather than an electronic structure on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound, just before the toll plaza. Typical lane configuration on the New Jersey Turnpike headed northbound. Notice the lane skip lines are much longer than Florida's. Advance signage for Exit 2, US 322 to Swedesboro, NJ and Chester, PA coming up in two miles. Notice how the signage arrangement is much different than other states. Overhead for Exit 2, US 322 on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound. Notice how the arrow on the sign is much different. Also notice the use of the "Thru Traffic" signage rather than use pull thru signage for New York City; recently as part of an Interstate 275 rehabilitation project from Floribraska Avenue (Exit 46A) to Busch Blvd. (Exit 50) all the "Thru Traffic" signs have been taken down and in some locations replaced with signage for Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg. I believe using the actual destinations on pull thru signage is much better and user friendly than a generic "Thru Traffic" sign. Final opportunity for Exit 2, US 322. Unlike other states, New Jersey places its exit gore signage on an overhead rather than at the actual place of exit. Exit numbering on the New Jersey Turnpike is sequential rather than mile marker based. I believe all exits on the New Jersey Turnpike feature a trumpet type entry and exit system where you go to a toll plaza and either pick up your ticket as you get on or pay your toll as you get off, much like the ticket section of the Florida Turnpike. Headed back on Interstate 95 south in Delaware just before the Maryland state line and we encounter Florida-style traffic backups due to construction, even on a Sunday! Notice to the right signage for DE 896 to Newark and Middletown, DE as well as access to US 301. US 301? That's right, the same US 301 that goes to Tampa by way of the infamous Florida towns known as speeding ticket traps which I won't mention here. We're back in Maryland and on the outskirts of Baltimore on Interstate 95 south. Those headed to US 40 should use Interstate 895 while those headed to the BWI Airport should use Interstate 95. Also notice the advisory tunnel signage for Interstate 895 due to the width and height restrictions of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Additionally, through traffic carrying hazardous materials are verboten in both the Baltimore Harbor and the Ft. McHenry Tunnels and such traffic must use Interstate 695 to loop around the Baltimore area. Advance signage for the Interstate 95/895 split just ahead. Traffic headed to Annapolis should use Interstate 895 and the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel while traffic headed to Baltimore or BWI Airport should use Interstate 95 and the Ft. McHenry Tunnel. Later in the afternoon after uploading the first set of pictures we set out once more and we are on Interstate 97 south headed towards Annapolis, Maryland's equivalent of Tallahassee. The first set of signage in this photo is Exit 13, MD 174/Quarterfield Road and advance signage for Exit 12, Business MD 3 to Glen Burnie coming up in one mile. Signage for Exit 10A, Benfield Blvd. and Severna Park. Notice how the arrows are quite different for the exit lane drop. Additionally, through traffic headed to Richmond, VA should follow Interstate 97 south. Exit 5, MD 178 to Crownsville. Notice how the signage is mounted on the overpass for Waterbury Rd. We are approaching the end of Interstate 97 in one mile and the junction of US 50 and US 301. Using US 50 east/US 301 north will take you to Annapolis and the Bay Bridge, while US 50 west/US 301 south will take you to Washington (via US 50 west) or Richmond (via US 301 south). The actual end of Interstate 97 south. US 301 south to Richmond provides a good bypass of the Washington metropolitan area. We're now on US 50 and US 301 headed to the Bay Bridge. This first overhead sign gantry is (I would say) a little hilarious, as this exit is for Exit 23, MD 450 to MD 178 to the town of Parole. How does Maryland come up with town names such as this?? Next we come on advance signage for Exit 27, MD 2 North and MD 450 South to the US Naval Academy. Final opportunity for Exit 27, MD 2 and MD 450. Notice how the "only" text on the yellow background is a lot larger than your typical "exit only" signage. By the way, exit numbering for US 50 eastbound is mile marker based from the Interstate 95/495 Beltway in Washington. Exit 31, Whitehall Road and advance signage for Exit 32, Oceanic Drive and Sandy Point State Park. Due to the unusual design of the ramp, traffic exiting at Exit 31 must reduce speed to 15 mph. On the other hand, Exit 32 is the last exit before the toll plaza for the Bay Bridge. Toll plaza for the Bay Bridge is coming up in one mile. Like all other Maryland toll facilities, toll is payable in cash or EZ-Pass. Additionally, vehicles over 5 tons GVW are restricted to the two right lanes. Toll plaza for the Bay Bridge coming up in 1/2 mile. You are urged to reduce your speed if you have not done so already. Eastbound on the Bay Bridge getting ready to go through the through truss suspension span. The reason why the lane striping is different is that when one of the bridges has to be shut down for maintenance reasons the other bridge becomes a two-way traffic bridge, hence the lane use signals in use. Midway on the eastbound through truss suspension span of the Bay Bridge. We have left the suspension portion of the Bay Bridge and we are ready to go through the through truss cantilever span. Doesn't this remind you of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge? Midway through the cantilever through truss span of the Bay Bridge, minus the steel grating that used to be found on the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Back in the days of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge for you Floridians reading this we used to dread the steel grating. Just about ready to exit the Bay Bridge and enter Maryland's Eastern Shore. Exit 37, MD 8 to Stevensville and Romancoke. Sure I would like to explore Maryland's Eastern Shore but it was getting late in the day. Now we are on US 50 West going towards Washington and we are at Exit 13 where US 301 South bids adieu to US 50 for the trip south to Richmond, VA and eventually Interstate 95. Later we turned south onto Interstates 95 and 495 from US 50 and we have an opportunity to show you the newly opened Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. Like its older counterpart, it is a drawbridge but the vertical clearance is higher which means fewer openings. This bridge is one of the very few drawbridges on the interstate system; further south on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville (Florida, that is) the Fuller Warren Bridge used to be a drawbridge but it was replaced by a high fixed level bridge. This picture shows you the advance warning for the upcoming drawbridge just ahead and to prepare to stop when the yellow lights on the top are flashing. Advance signage for Exit 177, US 1 to Alexandria and Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The Potomac River is the state line between Maryland and Virginia; however, I believe the signage is Maryland made (Virginia uses exit number tabs for its exit number signs just like Florida does). Overhead showing where you must stop if the traffic signals turn red due to the drawbridge being opened. In addition gates come down blocking the highway as a safety measure, just like the drawbridges that connect the beach communities to St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Exit 177 is 1/2 mile away. Notice the Welcome to Virginia signage as we have crossed from Maryland soil onto Virginia soil. According to Scott Kozel's Roads To The Future site, the original Woodrow Wilson Bridge was owned by the United States Government as the center span dipped into the District of Columbia and when the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge is said and done, ownership of the bridge will no longer be the United States Government; instead, the bridge will be jointly owned by the Virginia DOT and the Maryland DOT. |
This site was last updated 12/26/07