Interstate 97

Interstate 97 is an Interstate Highway in Maryland connecting Annapolis and Baltimore through Anne Arundel County. The route serves as a primary arterial link between the United States Naval Academy, the BWI Airport, and suburbs such as Severna Park and Perry Hall, providing access for commuters, freight, and military traffic. As one of the shorter primary Interstates, it integrates with corridors including Interstate 695, US 50 and US 50, affecting regional travel patterns and metropolitan planning.

Route description

I-97 begins near Parole at an interchange with US 50 and MD 2, proceeding north as a controlled-access highway through suburbs adjacent to Annapolis and past the United States Naval Academy. It intersects with MD 665 and provides connections to Glen Burnie and the BWI Airport via major junctions with MD 70 and MD 100. Traveling north, the highway crosses near Severna Park and clips the periphery of Glen Burnie before meeting Interstate 695 at the Baltimore Beltway interchange, which serves movements toward Towson, Catonsville, and Ellicott City. The northern terminus lies within the Baltimore metropolitan area with ramps feeding into local arterials that lead toward Downtown Baltimore, MD 2 northbound, and connections for travelers to Fort Meade and Arundel Mills Mall.

History

Planning for a direct limited-access corridor between Annapolis and Baltimore emerged in studies by the Maryland State Highway Administration and metropolitan agencies amid postwar expansion affecting Anne Arundel County and Howard County. Early concepts dating to the 1950s and 1960s sought to relieve congestion on US 50 and MD 2 and to improve access to the United States Naval Academy and Baltimore Harbor. Federal Interstate designation was pursued in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration and congressional delegations from Maryland's 3rd congressional district and Maryland's 1st congressional district. Construction in phases during the 1970s and 1980s included land acquisition, environmental reviews involving Chesapeake Bay Foundation interests, and designs to cross waterways linked to the Chesapeake Bay. The final segments opened to traffic in 1989, completing the corridor and prompting adjustments to regional routing that involved Interstate 695 and US 50 interchanges.

Exit list

The exit sequence provides access to major nodes and suburban communities, including connections to US 50/MD 2 at the southern end in Parole, interchanges for MD 70 serving Bowie and the United States Naval Academy, ramps to MD 100 toward Ellicott City and Odenton, and the junction with Interstate 695 of the Baltimore Beltway near Glen Burnie. Intermediate exits provide access to communities such as Severna Park, Arnold, and Millersville, as well as industrial and commercial areas serving BWI Airport and Arundel Mills Mall. The northern terminus interfaces with local corridors that lead toward Downtown Baltimore and facilitate movements to Fort Meade and Baltimore County suburbs.

Future and improvements

Planned improvements have targeted interchange capacity, multimodal connectivity, and resilience to storm events around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Proposals by the Maryland Department of Transportation and regional planning bodies include ramp reconfigurations with Interstate 695, managed lanes studies coordinated with Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and enhanced transit connections serving BWI Airport via MARC Train and light rail studies that reference Maryland Transit Administration proposals. Corridor projects have considered mitigation for runoff affecting tributaries of the Severn River and partnerships with Environmental Protection Agency programs to address water quality. Local governments, including Anne Arundel County and Baltimore, have advanced land-use plans to manage growth near interchanges and coordinate with federal entities such as the Department of Transportation.

Traffic, safety, and maintenance

Traffic volumes on the corridor reflect commuter patterns between Annapolis and Baltimore, with peak-hour congestion near major interchanges and seasonal fluctuations tied to maritime events at the United States Naval Academy and tourism to the Chesapeake Bay. Safety analyses by the Maryland State Highway Administration and county agencies emphasize collision reduction at high-volume ramps, pavement preservation, and bridge inspections under standards related to the National Bridge Inspection Standards. Maintenance coordination includes routine resurfacing, signal work on adjacent arterials, and winter weather response integrated with Maryland State Police and county public works. Freight movements to distribution centers and airport-related traffic prompt coordination with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines and inspection regimes.

Category:Interstate Highways in Maryland