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WEBVTT LOW>> THE BRIDGE IS 60 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LOWELL: THE REASON WHY SO MANY COMMUTES THAT GO THROUGH THE BALTIMORE AREA ARE ABOUT TO GET LONGER. >> ANYONE DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGE AND THE PATCHES OF POTHOLES SHOULD CERTAINLY AGREE THAT IT IS TIME TO FIX THE BRIDGE. LOWELL: STARTING NOVEMBER 27, THE NORTHBOUND LANE WILL BE CLOSED FROM O’DONNELL TO THE -- AND THE SOUTHBOUND CONVERTED TO TWO TRAFFIC LANES AND THE REVERSE WILL HAPPEN IN SPRING WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED IN SPRING OF 2021. >> I WILL AVOID 895. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC ON EIGHT FINDING FIVE -- ON 895 WILL TAKE YOU FOREVER. ALL: PEOPLE ARE NOT HAL HE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC. >> I WILL AVOID IT ALTOGETHER, IT IS ALREADY AWFUL IN THE MORNING AND IN THE EVENING AND SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. LOWELL: AAA MID-ATLANTIC SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE PROJECT SAYING -- LOWELL: WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE HARBOR TUNNEL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DRIVERS USE I-695 AND 95 AS ALTERNATIVE ROUTES. >> TRAFFIC IS BAD ENOUGH, RIGHT. I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY CAN DO THAT. IT IS CRAZY. LOWELL: OFFICIALS TELL US THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COST A LITTLE LESS THAN $200 MILLION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT, THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, AND THE TIMELINE AND ALTERNATE ROUTES, YOU CAN LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE, WBAL TV.COM AND OUR MOBILE APP

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Major construction to replace a 60-year-old bridge will disrupt traffic on Interstate 895 for years, the Maryland Transportation Authority warned Friday.Link: I-895 Bridge ProjectMDTA officials said commuters should avoid the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel area starting Nov. 27, when a $189 million project will begin."This I-895 bridge is the MDTA's only remaining structurally deficient bridge," MDTA Executive Director Kevin C. Reigrut said in a statement."Anyone driving over the bridge in the patches of potholes should certainly agree that it's time to fix the bridge," Maryland Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chairman Pete Rahn said.The bridge is almost a half-mile long and crosses more than 23 railroad tracks, making it a complex project."Because of that coordination and complexity, it requires an actual closure of one half of the bridge at a time," Rahn said.The project will close the northbound lanes from the north side of the tunnel to the Boston/O'Donnell Street exit. Two-way traffic will travel in the southbound lanes with one lane in each direction.Additionally, the Holabird Avenue exit ramp, which will be replaced, will close completely and will not reopen until northbound I-895 reopens in spring 2020.In spring 2019, the northbound bore of the tunnel will completely close for 60 days. During that time, two-way traffic will travel in the southbound tunnel bore with one lane in each direction.In spring 2020, the reverse will happen with work beginning on the southbound side. That means southbound I-895 will close completely with two-way traffic traveling in the northbound lanes. The southbound bore of the tunnel will completely close for 60 days in spring 2020 with two-way traffic operating in the northbound bore.The project is scheduled to be completed, and the highway will reopen to traffic, in spring 2021.AAA Mid-Atlantic said it supports the project, saying, "Projects such as these, while inconvenient, are necessary and critical to the traffic safety of all road users who utilize the I-895 bridge."The MDTA suggests using Interstate 695/Key Bridge and Interstate 95/Fort McHenry Tunnel as alternate routes.The project, which began in April, also involves making repairs to the Harbor Tunnel."I cannot stress enough how difficult it's going to be for traffic coming through I-895 during this construction," Rahn said.Commuters 11 News spoke with Friday said they'll avoid I-895."I'm going to avoid 895 if that's what's going to happen. One lane of traffic on 895 will take you forever to get where you're going," said Melvin Freeman."I'll probably avoid it altogether if it's going to be one lane both ways. It's already awful in the morning and in the evening and sometimes the middle of the day," said Shannell Cockrell."Traffic is bad enough, right? So, I don't know how they could do it for three years. It's crazy here with the traffic," said Barry Norian.Commuters can sign up for email and text alerts, or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways online at mdta.maryland.gov. Commuters can also follow the MDTA on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates on major incidents.I-895 Bridge Project TimelineNov. 27, 2018:Northbound I-895 closedNorthbound I-895 exit 10 (Holabird Avenue) closedSouthbound I-895 - Two-way traffic (one lane open each direction)Northbound Harbor Tunnel closed for 60 days (spring 2019)Spring 2020Southbound I-895 closedNorthbound I-895 - Two-way traffic (one lane open each direction)Southbound Harbor Tunnel closed for 60 days (spring 2020)Spring 2021Normal operations restoredAll lanes open northbound and southbound I-895Two lanes open each directionSummer 2021Project complete