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12/25/07 |
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Day Three - Monday, 5 September 2005 It's Labor Day, which would be dubbed as the unofficial end of Summer and another day of exploration before I have to go to Washington the next day to conduct official business related to my websites. After breakfast I set out to explore more Baltimore area highways including a loop on the Baltimore beltway, Interstate 695 including the Francis Scott Key Bridge and an excursion on Interstate 83 making a brief visit into Pennsylvania just south of York and a brief visit on Interstate 70 including the infamous eastern end of Interstate 70 at a park and ride lot instead of concluding at Interstate 95 as planned. After my excursion I went back to the hotel to download the pictures onto the laptop and set out to explore more of Baltimore, this time to explore Fort McHenry, where history was made in 1814 (that's a long, long time ago even before Florida became the 27th state in 1845) when a lawyer by the name of Francis Scott Key wrote the words to a poem which would become our National Anthem over 100+ years later in 1931 thanks to the efforts of a Congressman by the name of Mr. Linthicum (of which I believe the hotel I was staying in was located in a town of the same name, Linthicum, by coincidence!) who attempted to get the measure passed into law on the third attempt. After that I did a little more exploring on Interstate 95 north through the Fort McHenry Tunnel and on Interstate 895 south through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, then it was back to the hotel to go over my copyright applications which I would be taking with me the next day to Washington. Pictures from Day Three Signage explaining the tunnel restrictions for Interstate 895 on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Advance signage for the tunnels ahead on Interstate 95 north. Overhead signage for Exits 3A-B, MD 2 and Exit 2, MD 10 south on Interstate 695 east. Final overhead signage for Exit 2, MD 10 south on Interstate 695 east. Signage for Exit 1, MD 173 on Interstate 695 east. You will notice that this is the last exit before the Key Bridge. Nice view of the Key Bridge on Interstate 695 east. Mileage sign for the toll plaza which is 2 miles ahead. Also notice that trucks are banned from the left lane and the 816 sign you see identifies a variable message sign; such identification of message signs are common throughout Maryland. Approaching the main span of the Key Bridge. Doesn't it remind you of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge, especially approaching the old cantilever span? Maybe... Midway on the main span of the Key Bridge. Exiting the main span of the Key Bridge and starting our descent downhill. Approaching the toll plaza for the Key Bridge. The toll was modest - $2.00 per passenger car, payable by cash or EZ-Pass (too bad SunPass isn't accepted). Signage for Exit 43, MD 158 and MD 157 on Interstate 695. We have changed orientation from eastbound to northbound past the Key Bridge. Exit 41, MD 151/Cove Road to Dundalk. Exit 34, MD 7/Philadelphia Rd to Rosedale and advance signage for Exit 33, Interstate 95. Signage for Exit 33, Interstate 95. Traffic headed to Baltimore and Washington should be in the left lane while traffic headed to New York should be in the right lane. Additionally, Interstate 695 changes orientation from northbound to westbound here. Exit 32, US 1 to Bel Air and Overlea. US 1 and Interstate 95 coexist with each other on the eastern seaboard. Exit 31, MD 147/Harford Road and Exit 30, MD 41/Perring Parkway on Interstate 695 westbound. Exit 30B, MD 41 north and Exit 29, MD 542 south on Interstate 695 westbound. Exit 27, MD 146/Dulaney Valley Road and Exit 26, MD 45/York Road on Interstate 695 westbound. Exit 24, Interstate 83 north to Timonium MD and York PA as well as advance signage for Exit 23, Interstate 83 south to Baltimore and MD 25/Falls Road on Interstate 695 westbound. And here we are on Interstate 83 north! The first signage we see is for Exit 16, Timonium Road. Next is Exit 18, Warren Road to Cockeysville on Interstate 83 north. Notice that there is no reentry to Interstate 83 northbound. Exit 20, Shawan Road. From here Interstate 83 goes from six lane to four lane. York is 27 miles ahead while Harrisburg (Pennsylvania's equivalent of Tallahassee) is 52 miles ahead. Exit 36, MD 439 to Bel Air. This is the last exit in Maryland on Interstate 83 north. Maryland's way of letting you know to come back and see us again soon! And here we are at the Maryland-Pennsylvania border! Notice the change of pavement that clearly marks where the state line is located. Our first exit on Interstate 83 in Pennsylvania is Exit 4, PA 851 to Shrewsbury. Pennsylvania has recently begun changing their exit numbers from consecutive to mile marker based like Florida has done as evidenced by the "Old Exit 1" sign mounted on the left sign post. Next is Exit 8, PA 216 to Glen Rock. York is another 9 miles away while Harrisburg is another 34 miles up the road on Interstate 83 north. Exit 14, PA 182 to Leader Heights. A view of the Interstate 83/PA 182 interchange looking east on PA 182. Work is in progress to widen the overpass crossing Interstate 83 here. Another view of the construction at the Interstate 83/PA 182 interchange. Seems like Interstate 83 could be widened but I think it would require more right of way acquisition displacing businesses in the way. Exit 37, Freeland Road on Interstate 83 southbound. Apparently this is a Maryland sign placed on Pennsylvania soil as the state line is just ahead. Back across the Pennsylvania-Maryland border into Maryland and Exit 37 is just ahead. Maryland welcomes you. A state has to do anything and everything to welcome its residents and visitors. By contrast Florida practically does the same thing in the name of tourism (and now more than ever despite the hurricanes of 2004). Advance diagrammatical signage for Interstate 695. Those following Interstate 83 south to Baltimore should follow Interstate 695 west. Exit 20, MD 140 and Exit 19, Interstate 795 to Owings Mills and Reisterstown. Interstate 695 has changed orientation from westbound to southbound here. Exit 17, MD 122/Security Blvd. and Exit 16, Interstate 70 on Interstate 695 south. Eastbound on Interstate 70 to Baltimore? Not so. Actually, the end of the line for Interstate 70 is approaching at Exit 94, Security Blvd as evidenced by the text on the bottom of the sign on white background that states "All Traffic Must Exit". And here is the eastern end of Interstate 70: Unceremoniously in a park and ride lot rather than a dignified end. According to Andy Field's aaroadtrips.com site just beyond where the road ends is Baltimore's city limits. According to Andy Field's site and Scott Kozel's site Interstate 70 was planned to continue on to Interstate 95 but local resident opposition brought the project to a halt. Signage directing motorists to Interstate 70 west as well as Interstate 695. Looking west on Interstate 70 from the park and ride lot. Good closeup view of the overhead signage for Exit 94, the last exit from Interstate 70 eastbound. Here's yours truly standing proudly at the end of Interstate 70. Looking west on Interstate 70 and signage for Interstate 695 to Towson and Glen Burnie. As this is the eastern U.S. terminus for Interstate 70, Maryland proudly presents you with distances to various points on Interstate 70 across the good 'ole USA. Cove Fort, Utah (Interstate 70's western terminus at Interstate 15) is 2200 miles away as well as a few days' drive from here. (I'd rather fly cross country on Southwest any day with the way gas prices are). For you eastbound Interstate 70 motorists, Interstate 70 ends at Interstate 695. I believe this sign should have been on a green background rather than a white background. And here we are at Exit 91, Interstate 695 on Interstate 70 eastbound. To reach Baltimore simply follow Interstate 695 south to Interstate 95. Signage for Exit 11, Interstate 95 on Interstate 695 south. Fort McHenry Photos Looking at Fort McHenry from the visitors center, where visitors are treated to a 30-minute film on Fort McHenry's importance and how one poem by Francis Scott Key put him in the spotlight (in this day and age, it would be overnight). A scale model view of Fort McHenry as it would have looked like in 1814. A well done exhibit on Francis Scott Key showing the flag that flew the one morning in 1814, a replica of the manuscript, the musical score and the legislation in Congress sponsored by Congressman Linthicum that made this poem of Francis Scott Key our National Anthem in 1931. An excellent view of the flag inside Ft. McHenry. This is not an appropriate site for a concealed cell phone tower, you know (like the creative uses for flagpoles as cellular antennas elsewhere). Looking southwest from Fort McHenry. This direction would be looking at Tampa, 900+ miles away. One of the many embankments within Fort McHenry. Doesn't it remind you of any of the old Interstate 4 embankments? Looking southeast from Fort McHenry at the Key Bridge in the background. Interstate 95 and Interstate 895 Photos Northbound on Interstate 95 at the entrance to the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Notice the changeable speed limit signs and the reminder to stay in your lane. Signage for the two tunnels ahead: The Fort McHenry Tunnel is on Interstate 95 while the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel is on Interstate 895 (which provides a connection to Annapolis, Maryland's equivalent of Tallahassee, via Interstate 97). Inside the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel on Interstate 895 southbound. Notice that on either side of the tunnel walls motorists are reminded to stay in the lane. This is also supplemented by the double white lane stripes that prohibit lane changing.
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