Emergency Temporary Closure of a Segment of Interstate 695, Including the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Maryland; Deletion From the National Network Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Highway Administration Byline: Shailen P. Bhatt Date: 8 May 2024 Subjects: American Government , Roads & Highways Topic: Interstate Highway System

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38942-38943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10025]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0026]


Emergency Temporary Closure of a Segment of Interstate 695, 
Including the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Maryland; 
Deletion From the National Network

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) closed Interstate 
695 (I-695) in both directions over the Patapsco River, which provides 
access to the Baltimore Harbor and the Port of Baltimore, on March 26, 
2024, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The MDTA is 
the owner of the bridge. It is a modal administration under the 
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). The MDTA is continuing 
the temporary closure of this segment of I-695 for an indefinite period 
of time until the damaged bridge can be reconstructed. The FHWA is 
providing notice in the Federal Register that the FHWA is approving an 
emergency deletion of this segment of I-695 from the National Network 
(NN), in accordance with applicable regulations, due to safety 
considerations and the emergency closure resulting from the bridge and 
other infrastructure damage, as discussed in this notice. The FHWA is 
also requesting comments from the public for 30 days on the alternate 
routes selected by MDTA due to the closure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions, 
please submit them by only one of the following means:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. 
and 5:00 p.m. ET, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number 
[FHWA-2024-0026] at the beginning of your comments. All comments 
received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Latuszek, FHWA Office of 
Operations, 573-616-0415, michael.latuszek@dot.gov; William Winne, 
Office of Chief Counsel, 202-366-0791, william.winne@dot.gov, FHWA, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; or Valeriya Remezova, 
FHWA Maryland Division, 410-779-7130, valeriya.remezova@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    This document and all comments received may be viewed online 
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov. The 
website is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An 
electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by accessing 
the Office of the Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov 
and the U.S.

[[Page 38943]]

Government Publishing Office's website at www.govinfo.gov.

Background

    The MDTA closed I-695 in both directions over the Patapsco 
River,\1\ which provides access to the Baltimore Harbor and the Port of 
Baltimore, on March 26, 2024, due to the collapse of the Francis Scott 
Key Bridge. The MDTA is the owner of the bridge. It is a modal 
administration under the MDOT.
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    \1\ The portion of I-695 that includes the Francis Scott Key 
Bridge is a part of the National Highway System (NHS) and was 
officially incorporated into the Interstate System effective April 
29, 2024. In Appendix A to title 23 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) part 658, this route is listed as MD 695 from I-
695/MD 3 Glenn Burnie to I-95/695 Kenwood.
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    The FHWA is providing notice in the Federal Register that the MDTA 
is continuing the temporary closure of this segment of I-695 in both 
directions for an indefinite period of time until the damaged bridge 
can be reconstructed. The FHWA is requesting comments from the public 
for 30 days on the alternate routes selected by MDTA due to the 
closure.
    The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations 
applicable to the NN that can safely and efficiently accommodate the 
large vehicles authorized by provisions of the Surface Transportation 
Assistance Act of 1982, as amended and codified at Title 49 of the 
United States Code (U.S.C.) Chapter 311; designated in accordance with 
23 CFR part 658 (Truck Size and Weight, Route Designations--Length, 
Width and Weight Limitations); and listed in Appendix A to 23 CFR part 
658. Under 23 CFR 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and 
restrictions), FHWA may approve deletions of, or use restrictions on, 
the Interstate System or other NN route based upon specified 
justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is authorized 
to delete any route from the NN on an emergency basis, based on safety 
considerations pursuant to 23 CFR 658.11(e), which also requires 
publishing this notice in the Federal Register for comment.
    At approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 26, 2024, a cargo ship leaving 
the Port of Baltimore struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is a 
component of the segment of I-695 over the Patapsco River. Shortly 
thereafter, the bridge collapsed. The overall bridge is approximately 
8,636 feet in length (or roughly 1.6 miles). The main span is 1,200 
feet. The Average Daily Traffic in 2023 was approximately 34,121 
vehicles.
    As a result, I-695 Outer Loop was closed at Quarantine Road (exit 
1), and the I-695 Inner Loop was closed at MD 157/Peninsula Expressway 
(exit 43); however, the situation is evolving. Maryland State 
transportation officials are providing public information via their web 
pages, which are listed at the end of this notice, regarding current 
closures and recommended detours. Although the recommended detours have 
been evolving since the onset of the incident, currently traffic on I-
695 is being rerouted as follows:
    Alternate routes that cross the Baltimore Harbor (Harbor Crossings) 
are I-95, the Fort McHenry Tunnel, or I-895, the Baltimore Harbor 
Tunnel. The I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel prohibits vehicles greater than 
14'6'' in height and 11'0'' in width. The I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 
prohibits vehicles greater than 13'6'' in height or 8'0'' in width. 
Both tunnels prohibit vehicles transporting hazardous materials. This 
includes vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds 
per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, or 
significant amounts of radioactive materials. Vehicles prohibited from 
Harbor Crossings, including vehicles transporting hazardous materials 
and vehicles over 14'6'' high or 11'0'' wide, should use the western 
section of I-695 around the tunnels as an alternative route.
    A detour message is being provided on overhead changeable message 
signs indicating the suggested use of alternate routes. Portable signs 
are being deployed for local roads. The Port of Baltimore is still open 
for truck transactions. Vessel (waterway) traffic into and out of the 
Port of Baltimore was suspended on March 26, 2024, until further notice 
(see MDTA websites and newsfeeds, listed below, for current status).
    For up-to-date information on traffic advisories, commercial truck 
and hazardous material routing, and the bridge replacement, the MDTA 
and MDOT established a website at https://mdta.maryland.gov/keybridgenews. In addition, MDOT provides traveler information via 
``Maryland 511'' at https://chart.maryland.gov/.
    Comments are invited on all alternate routes.
    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127 and 315; 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and 
31114; 23 CFR part 658.

Shailen P. Bhatt,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-10025 Filed 5-7-24; 8:45 am]
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