NPS Plans Expedited Repairs For Baltimore-Washington Parkway; Closures Starting Friday

Following calls to action by state and federal elected officials, the National Park Service on Tuesday announced they're moving up the time frame for repairs to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

The park service controls 29 miles of the highway, between Maryland Route 175 in Jessup and Washington. Earlier this month, the speed limit cut the speed limit on a six-mile stretch from 55 mph to 40 mph, citing poor road conditions.

Repairs aimed at improving the road ahead of a larger repaving project were supposed to begin in fall, but instead will start in mid-April.

“We take our responsibility for the parkway very seriously and are making good on our promise to drivers to do everything in our power to improve the road,” Baltimore-Washington Parkway Superintendent Matt Carroll said in a statement. “National Park Service crews have been working tirelessly. The special patching this weekend should improve driving right away and will be quickly followed by repaving.”

As work begins, parts of the parkway will be closed over the weekend. From 7:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, the southbound side of the parkway will be closed between Maryland Route 198 and Maryland Route 197. From 7:30 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday, the northbound side of the same stretch will be closed. Weather may impact timely repairs.

NPS officials say they will use a different patching material and approach to improve driving conditions until the repaving projects begin. Since the end of January, crews have used more than 130 tons of asphalt to patch potholes on the parkway.

Last week, Gov. Larry Hogan called on Maryland's congressional delegation to support legislation to transfer control of the parkway to the state, noting the agency's massive maintenance backlog nationwide. Elected officials including Sen. Chris Van Hollen have publicly criticized the park service's stewardship of the highway.

“I contacted the National Park Service to raise the alarm about B-W Parkway, and I appreciate their efforts to work with us and prioritize this issue. This decision will ensure that repair work will begin right away so that Maryland residents can return to a safe, reliable commute,” Van Hollen said in a statement Wednesday.

The park service worked with the Federal Highway Administration to expedite the project.

“By accelerating the anticipated time necessary for completion of this work from years to months, the Park Service is showing that it takes seriously the stewardship of this essential regional travel artery," Sen. Ben Cardin said. "I look forward to remaining in close contact with the agency as the B-W Parkway resurfacing project gets underway and moves quickly toward completion with the least disruption possible, ensuring that this and other key maintenance projects on federal lands in Maryland receive the full attention they merit.”

Beginning in mid-April, crews will completely repave the road from near Maryland Route 197 to Maryland Route 198. Mid-summer, crews will repave from near Maryland Route 198 to Maryland Route 175. That second phase will also involve repaving on-ramps and off-ramps along both stretches.

Work will be completed in two phases. Beginning mid-April, the NPS will completely repave the road from near MD 197 to near MD 198. Mid-summer, crews will begin the second phase of work repaving the road from near MD 198 to MD 175. The second phase will also involve repaving the access ramps throughout both work areas.

Rep. Anthony G. Brown's district runs along and crosses the parkway.

“The Baltimore-Washington Parkway is a critical piece of our regional infrastructure network that tens of thousands of working families rely on, and cannot fall into disrepair," Brown said. "I am heartened and appreciative of the Federal Highway Administration and National Park Service’s decision to take swift action to fix the parkway, and make commuting quicker and safer for every person who depends on the parkway to get to school, work, or to return home to their families. This can’t wait."

Since 2011, crews have repaved the parkway from the District of Columbia boundary to the Patuxent River Bridge. The last phase was originally supposed to be done in 2021, but with the changes announced Wednesday, that work will be finished this year. A schedule for spring's repaving work is forthcoming, officials say, and drivers should expect additional night and weekend closures as patching work continues. The latest information will be made available online.