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Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Plaza from the Air.

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895)

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

The 1.4-mile, four-lane tunnel opened in November 1957. Designated I-895, the facility crosses under the Patapsco River and connects major north/south highways and many arterial routes in Baltimore City's industrial sections. Including the tunnel and approach roadways, the facility is approximately 18.5 miles in length.

E-ZPass Trasponder

The E-ZPass® electronic-toll-collection system is available at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.

Propane, Hazardous Materials & Oversized Vehicle Info:

Vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using both the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor Tunnels. In addition, vehicles in excess of 13 feet, 6 inches, in height, or 96 inches (8 feet) in width; and all double trailers are prohibited from using the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. For additional information regarding these restrictions, please call 410-537-1374.

Contact Information:

  • Mailing Address:

    • Maryland Transportation Authority
      Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
      1200 Frankfurst Avenue
      Baltimore MD 21226
  • General Information:

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Quick Facts:

  • Length of tunnel and ramp structures: 1.4 miles
  • Length of entire facility, including tunnel and approaches: 18.5 miles
  • Number of twin-tube tunnel sections: 21 (ea. approximately 300 ft.long)
  • Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Groundbreaking: April 21, 1955
  • First tunnel section was sunk: April 11, 1956
  • Number of tiles lining the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel: 6,500,000
  • When dedicated, the tunnel was the 5th longest underwater vehicular tunnel in the world
  • First person to pay the Harbor Tunnel toll: Omero C. Catan of Teaneck, NJ
  • Designer/engineer of the tunnel: Ole Singstad of Singstad and Baillie in New York
  • State of Maryland Project Manager of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel: J.E. Greiner Company, now known as URS Corporation
  • Traffic Volume: 27.6 million vehicles (both directions)

Other Information:

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel History:

Baltimore Harbor TunnelWhen the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Interstate 895) opened on Nov. 29, 1957, it was an event of national importance. The new tunnel was heralded widely as breaking the "Baltimore Bottleneck" for the first time ever. For years, traffic had crawled through Baltimore's narrow streets, then the only direct route between Philadelphia and the South.

The traffic situation peaked in the mid-1940s, when a federal official referred to Baltimore as "the worst city in the United States, as far as I know, on the matter of taking care of its through-traffic." The need to break this bottleneck was apparent, and Maryland's State Roads Commission -- predecessor of the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) -- initiated plans under Maryland's Primary Bridge Program. The program, which was developed and approved in 1937, called for crossings of the Potomac, Susquehanna and Patapsco rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

After a debate about the planned crossing's location, the State Roads Commission decided on a Canton-Fairfield crossing as the best solution to address the City and State's local- and through-traffic needs. Officials selected a tunnel, rather than a bridge, to carry the traffic after experts were convinced that the costs of a twin-tube tunnel could be supported by the toll revenues it would generate. Construction began in April 1955.

At the time, the tunnel was considered an engineering marvel. Each of the tunnel's 21 twin-tube sections is 300 feet long (the size of a football field) and was built in shipyards and launched like a ship. Tugs then towed the sections to the construction site. The tunnel was built using the opentrench method -- prefabricated sections were sunk in a trench dredged in the Baltimore Harbor's bottom, and the sections were joined under water.

An integral part of the tunnel is its ventilation system -- the means for removing the exhaust fumes of thousands of vehicles daily and constantly replenishing the tunnel with fresh air.

The system includes one ventilation shaft and building over each end of the tunnel. Fresh air is supplied through a duct under the tunnel roadway and distributed through air flues. These flues are located just above the roadway on each side of the tunnel.

Air in the tunnel tube is drawn off into a duct above the tunnel ceiling and then dispersed into the atmosphere. The two ventilation buildings house gigantic fans that supply fresh air and remove stale air. Carbon-monoxide levels in each tube are monitored around the clock.

The tunnel was an instant success. It eliminated 51 traffic signals for through-traffic in downtown Baltimore, provided a cross-harbor route for local commuters and diverted up to 40 percent of commercial-vehicle traffic from local streets.

Today, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel handles more than 27.6 million vehicles annually. Along with the Fort McHenry Tunnel (Interstate 95) and the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Interstate 695), the Harbor Tunnel is part of a network of Baltimore Harbor crossings that provides convenient and safe transportation for local and interstate traffic.

Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895)

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Public Calendar

Nov 16

Women in Law Enforcement Event

8 AM

MDTA Police Headquarters, 4330 Broening Hwy, Baltimore MD  21222

 Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Event - November 16.

Women in Law Enforcement Event:  

Saturday, November 16, 2024 (0800)

Orientation, Q&A, Specialized Unit Demonstrations, Optional Opportunity to take our Physical Agility Test and Written Exam.

*All processing events are held at MDTA Police Headquarters, 4330 Broening Hwy, Baltimore MD  21222

Questions? Please call 410-537-7747.

Scan QR Code to Register:

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Or visit:

https://mdta.maryland.gov/Police/recruitment.html

Nov 16

Free Family Event - Thank a Safety Responder Day

11 AM

MD State Hwy Admin - Hanover Complex
7491 Connelley Drive
Hanover, MD 21076

Thank a Safety Responder Day - Free Family Event - Nov. 16 from 11am to 3pm

Save the Date! Bring the family to our Thank A Safety Responder Day on Saturday, November 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at our Hanover Complex, 7491 Connelley Drive, in Anne Arundel County. First responders from police, fire rescue, towing and transportation will be there with their vehicles. Kids can earn an honorary Junior Safety Responder certificate for their attendance. Catch a glimpse inside SHA’s Statewide Operations Center. Crafts, educational resources and food trucks, too! No admission charge. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/CrashResponderSafety

Nov 20

State of Maryland Fall ’24 Job Fair

10 AM

5th Regiment Armory
219 29th Division Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

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Ready to jumpstart your career at the MDTA?

Visit our table at the State of Maryland Fall Job Fair 2024 to explore exciting job openings and meet our dynamic team. The MDTA offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and career growth opportunities. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2024 

From 10 am – 2 pm

5th Regiment Armory
219 29th Division Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Follow link to register.

Download Flyer.