I-97

I-97 is an Interstate Highway in the Interstate Highway System located entirely within Maryland. It connects the state capital region around Annapolis and the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area by linking arterial routes such as US 50, MD 100, and I-695. Despite its short length, the route serves as a primary commuter and freight corridor between Annapolis and Baltimore suburbs, intersecting with corridors used by travelers to BWI Airport and Fort Meade.

Route description

The route begins near US 50 and MD 2 at a junction serving Parole and the United States Naval Academy area, proceeding north through Anne Arundel County toward Severna Park and Arnold. It provides access to MD 3 and MD 100, offering connections to Baltimore via I-695 and to US 50 eastbound toward Ocean City. Along its alignment the route crosses waterways near Magothy River and runs adjacent to suburban communities that developed as part of postwar growth associated with Fort Meade and Patuxent River NAS. Interchanges link the corridor to state routes serving Edgewater, Glen Burnie, and commuter nodes feeding the BWI Airport area.

History

Plans for a high-capacity link between Annapolis and Baltimore date to regional transportation studies contemporaneous with projects like I-95 and I-695 expansion proposals. Early right-of-way acquisitions and environmental reviews involved state agencies such as the Maryland State Highway Administration and federal coordination with the Federal Highway Administration. Construction advanced in phases during the late 20th century, influenced by competing priorities tied to growth around Fort Meade and the relocation of federal activities to the National Security Agency complex at Fort Meade. The designation followed negotiations within the Interstate system numbering conventions, reflecting the route's role as an intrastate connector serving Annapolis and the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. Subsequent upgrades and interchange reconfigurations addressed traffic demands from commuting patterns established in the decades after completion, with modifications near MD 100 and US 50 to improve access for traffic bound for BWI Airport and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Exit list

The corridor's interchanges provide access to major and local routes: the southern terminus connects to US 50/MD 2 serving Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, intermediate exits serve MD 665 and MD 3 toward Glen Burnie and Crofton, while northern connections include MD 100 and the northern terminus at I-695 providing access to Baltimore neighborhoods such as Towson and regional facilities like BWI Airport. Collector–distributor lanes and directional ramps at major junctions were engineered to interface with commuter flows between Annapolis, Severna Park, and Baltimore County suburbs. Signage along the route integrates with regional wayfinding to direct travelers toward US 50 eastbound for destinations such as Ocean City and westbound toward Washington, D.C..

Traffic and tolls

Daily traffic volumes reflect peak commuter flows between Annapolis and the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area, with counts influenced by seasonal travel toward Ocean City via US 50 and commercial movements servicing BWI Airport. The corridor is free of dedicated toll plazas, consistent with most urban Interstate segments in the state, though parallel facilities such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and certain managed lanes on nearby corridors employ tolling. Traffic management coordinates with agencies including the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority to implement incident response, traveler information, and peak-period congestion mitigation that affects access to regional nodes like Fort Meade and Baltimore.

Future developments

Proposed improvements have focused on interchange capacity, multimodal integration, and resilience to coastal and storm-related impacts affecting corridors feeding the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and BWI Airport. Planning efforts involve stakeholders such as the Maryland Department of Transportation, regional metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County. Potential projects include ramp reconfigurations to improve access to MD 100 and US 50, implementation of intelligent transportation systems similar to deployments on I-95 and managed lanes strategies used near I-695, and coordination with transit improvements serving Annapolis–Baltimore commuter markets. Environmental reviews continue to assess impacts on waterways connected to the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent communities such as Severna Park and Glen Burnie.

Category:Interstate Highways in Maryland