HANOVER, MD (January 22, 2016) - With the blizzard of 2016 quickly approaching, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is prepared and reminds Marylanders to plan ahead and avoid travel throughout the storm.
“MDOT will be working 24/7 to clear the roads, runways and railways,” said Secretary Pete K. Rahn. “We care about your safety so please stay home and out of harms way."
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) continue to monitor weather and road conditions and pretreat roadways and bridges.
High winds will result in wind warnings, restrictions or closures of the state’s toll bridges. Two-way operation will be suspended at the Bay Bridge during Friday’s afternoon rush-hour, which may result in significant eastbound delays. The I-95 Express Toll Lanes in Baltimore are expected to close at 6 p.m. tonight throughout the storm’s duration so crews can focus on clearing the adjacent lanes of mainline I-95. E-ZPass Maryland Stop-in Centers and customer-service center closed at 1 p.m.
At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, airlines will begin to suspend flight operations Friday afternoon and evening. Minimal, if any, airline flights are expected on Saturday, with the majority of flights being cancelled. Travelers should contact their airlines for updated flight status information. Many airlines have announced travel advisories and have waived change fees for customers traveling through the airport.
Motor Vehicle Administration locations closed at 1 p.m. Customers are urged to visit the website for updates and to take advantage of on-line services. Officials recommend contacting the MVA if driving skills tests must be rescheduled due to weather conditions. For customers’ convenience, the MVA will extend the following deadlines for Maryland residents:
- Temporary vehicle registration expiring between January 22, 2016, and January 31, 2016, will be extended until February 1, 2016.
- Any vehicle required to complete the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) test with a due date of January 27, 2016, will be extended until February 1, 2016.
- Any Maryland resident with a Learner’s Permit that expires between January 22, 2016, and January 31, 2016, will be allowed to take the driver’s skills test through February 1, 2016.
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will operate with reduced service and schedule changes beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 22. For customers’ safety, all services will be temporarily suspended prior to midnight tonight, depending on weather conditions, and will continue to be suspended throughout the weekend. Customers are urged to get to their destinations as soon as possible to ensure their safety.
The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore will stop work at its cargo terminals at 7 p.m. Friday and will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas that was scheduled to dock Sunday morning and sail Sunday late afternoon, will now arrive on Monday morning.
MDOT’s goal is to keep travelers safe and informed of transportation conditions statewide and offers the following resources for up to date information.
- MDOT: mdot.maryland.gov; @MDOTNEWS on Twitter
- SHA: roads.maryland.gov; chart maryland.gov; @MDSHA on Twitter; facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration
- MDTA: mdta.maryland.gov; @TheMDTA on Twitter; 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) for Bay Bridge Traffic
- MAA (BWI): BWIairport.com;@ BWI_Airport on Twitter; facebook.com/BWIairport
- MPA (Port): mpamaryland.gov
- Cruise updates: @portof bal on Twitter; facebook.com/cruisemd - Cargo updates: @portof bal on Twitter; facebook.com/baltimoreport
- MTA: mta.maryland.gov; @mtamaryland on Twitter
- MVA: mva.maryland.gov; @MD_MVA on Twitter
SHA owns and maintains non-toll, numbered roads (Interstate, U.S. and MD – examples I-495, US 1 and MD 100) in Maryland's 23 counties. SHA does not maintain any roads in Baltimore City or any county/municipal roads. For a list of County Roads Department Frequently Requested Phone Numbers, visit http://www.roads.maryland.gov/Index.aspx?PageId=9.
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