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| Maryland Route 695 | |
|---|---|
| State | Maryland |
| Type | MD |
| Route | 695 |
| Length mi | 20.2 |
| Established | 1950s |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Baltimore County/Anne Arundel County line |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | I-695 at Baltimore County |
| Counties | Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County |
Maryland Route 695 Maryland Route 695 is a state-numbered freeway forming part of the eastern arc of the Beltway system around Baltimore, connecting suburban corridors and supporting access to regional nodes such as BWI Airport, Baltimore Harbor, and industrial areas near Patapsco River estuary. The route links major interstates and US routes, serving commuter, freight, and intermodal traffic between Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County and interfacing with municipal centers such as Halethorpe, Arbutus, and Riverview.
The highway begins near the county line adjacent to BWI Business District and proceeds northward as a limited-access arterial paralleling the Patapsco River shoreline, intersecting ramps that connect to Interstate 95, Interstate 97, and U.S. Route 1. It provides direct links to BWI Airport via collector-distributor lanes and interfaces with the rail station serving MARC Train and Light RailLink services. The corridor passes industrial parks, intermodal yards associated with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, and suburban neighborhoods such as Linthicum Heights and Patterson Park environs. Bridges and viaducts cross tributaries feeding into the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent wetlands near Patapsco Valley State Park, with noise barriers shielding residential zones in Essex and Towson. The route terminates at a full interchange with the Baltimore Beltway, integrating with movements to Towson, Catonsville, and the Port of Baltimore.
The corridor was developed in response to postwar suburbanization trends influenced by the expansion of Interstate Highway System funding and federal programs such as the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Early planning involved county agencies in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County and coordination with the Maryland State Highway Administration. Construction phases coincided with major projects like the completion of I-95 through Baltimore and the opening of BWI Airport (originally Friendship International Airport), which reshaped traffic patterns. Throughout the late 20th century the route saw successive widening projects tied to economic growth at Baltimore Harbor and the development of logistics facilities for companies such as Amazon and regional distribution centers. Environmental reviews addressed impacts on habitats protected by Chesapeake Bay Program partners, prompting mitigation efforts along tributary corridors. In recent decades, safety upgrades added modern interchange ramps, intelligent transportation systems funded by regional metropolitan planning organizations such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and multimodal connections supporting MARC Train and Amtrak access.
Key junctions include multi-level connections with Interstate 95, providing north–south access toward Wilmington and Washington, D.C. via the Jones Falls Expressway and Fort McHenry Tunnel corridors; an interchange serving I-97 toward Annapolis and US Route 50; ramps to U.S. Route 1 linking downtown Baltimore and southern suburbs; and movements to the Baltimore Beltway facilitating travel to Towson and the Port of Baltimore. Collector-distributor systems and flyover ramps at these nodes support freight movements tied to maritime freight and rail yards operated by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.
Along the corridor, motorists find services oriented to regional travel demands: airport parking and rental car facilities associated with BWI Airport; logistics hubs for national carriers such as UPS and FedEx; commuter park-and-ride lots serving MARC Train and Baltimore Light RailLink riders; and fueling and maintenance centers near commercial clusters in Linthicum and Hanover. Emergency response coverage is provided by county agencies including Anne Arundel County Fire Department and Baltimore County Police Department, with coordination from the Maryland Department of Transportation for incident management. Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations connect to trail systems maintained by Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks and Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks in sections adjacent to preserved open space.
Traffic volumes reflect a mix of commuter flows to Baltimore, airport-related traffic to BWI Airport, and heavy truck movements serving the Port of Baltimore and distribution centers near Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Business District. Peak weekday congestion aligns with I-95 commuting patterns and seasonal port activity, with freight peaks influenced by international shipping schedules and intermodal transfers at facilities managed by Maryland Port Administration. Traffic management strategies utilize roadway cameras, dynamic message signs, and coordination with Maryland Transportation Authority and the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board to mitigate incidents and optimize throughput.
Planned improvements reflect regional priorities identified by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, including interchange reconfigurations to improve access to BWI Airport and upgrades to accommodate autonomous and connected vehicle technologies promoted by research partners at University of Maryland. Freight corridor enhancements aim to streamline access to the Port of Baltimore, informed by port expansion initiatives and partnerships with operators such as Ports America. Environmental resilience projects funded through sources including the Chesapeake Bay Program and state grants target stormwater mitigation and sea-level rise adaptation along low-lying segments adjacent to Patapsco River marshes. Proposed transit-oriented development near rail stations seeks coordination with local governments in Linthicum, Hanover, and Arbutus to integrate land use, last-mile logistics, and passenger services.