I-895 Harbor Tunnel Thruway: Baltimore, MD

Follows I-95 South to I-895 South through the Harbor Tunnel and back to I-95 South.

[@MrJamesgrate]

As always Jim, you deliver a sensational driving experience in your videos, I honestly can't say anything negative about the videos you produce because they are so entertaining. Your music selection, the exit labeling, I could go on, but your viewership reflects your craftsmanship. Thank you for what you do..

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you for the very kind words James, much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoy the videos.

[@MDStudios222]

I love these videos to fall asleep to. They are so relaxing, that paired with the music...perfect nightcap! Thanks freeway Jim!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you for sharing that and for watching!

[@LeroyBright]

Thanks for showing the video on the Eastern end of I-695 (I reside in that general vicinity), The Francis Scott Key Bridge (Especially that), Fort McHenry Tunnel, and last, but not least, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel! (All in the general vicinity) You even gave me tidbits of trivia on the Harbor Tunnel that I never knew about and should have (Me, being from Baltimore) especially about a bridge being considered there around 1947, but was rejected by the Army Corps of Engineers and then decided on the tunnel, approved it in 1954 and construction commencing about 1955, being completed in 1957.

[@inayathkhan100]

Too good video and background music awesome 👍

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@dmitrivalencia]

1:23 to 1:30 very nice intersections and the effect of slowing down was great too! enjoyed hitching in your car thanks for the trip!

[@jamesanthonygreen4180]

This was a very enjoyable video. I greatly remember when this was the only way through Baltimore back in the early 80s.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@liamh1015]

Wonderful Video! one of my favorite highways, I-895 that is!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@TheSolarcatcher]

Nice video Jim! Loved the music (as always, you throw a nice curveball in selections now and then). All the times I've been in Baltimore, I should've taken that once! Thanks!

[@socarboy]

as always...your work sets the standard in highway videos.

[@cochrab]

Hey Jim, another great video!! I loved the ride and that you got I-895 clinched!!

[@NewBlueProductions]

Thanks for the ride, Jim! I never knew there was a "predecessor" to the Fort McHenry tunnel until I caught your video. Very cool.

[@CU00008]

I commuted through that tunnel many times. Man I miss Baltimore. Thanks for the vid and good vibe!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, the music is posted during the ride and in the closing credits.

[@kesschristopher]

Thanks for posting the earlier highway (planning) maps. Very fascinating. In the 1958 map, they had US 301 in a far more westerly alignment . I think that road ended up as MD Route 3. Most of it at least. No I-95 in this map, though the Thruway did end up having the interchanges at the Beltway and US 1. The 1969 map had I-83 crossing directly through Canton and Fells Point and appearing to merge with I-95 around Dundalk, north/east of the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Later (I'm sure) plans had I-83 connecting with I-95 in the vicinity of Caton Avenue and only in recent years did MDOT remove the merge ramp stubs that had been built in anticipation of 83's extension (I think, at different times, via a bridge or a tunnel) to that area. Was that a planned seaplane airport just north of Westport/west of Port Covington? I'm trying to imagine seaplanes flying over Oriole Park/Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. I think there have been rumblings at some point about extending the I-95 express lanes up near Baltimore to the ones on the Capital Beltway to give an express trip all the way to Virginia, ala the Jersey Turnpike. Anyone who's sat in DC rush-hour traffic may support that idea. I could one day see an Express/Local configuration all the way from Virginia to Delaware (95/495/295 interchange) one day. Someone asked why take 895 instead of 95? I can think of several reasons: 1) If you're going towards I-97 or US 50 headed towards Annapolis or the Eastern Shore; 2) If you're travelling on an O's or Ravens gameday and you want to miss that traffic; 3) taking 895 to 97 gives you more options for getting to the BWI area; 4) if you're headed further south and want or need to skip some Capital Beltway traffic by taking 895 to 97 to US 50; 5) you can also skip some of the BW Parkway traffic in Baltimore and pick up that road in the vicinity of Lansdowne.

[@rwboa22]

Chris K, must have been like that until Rt. 301 was aligned with Rt. 50 to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

[@InterstateKyle]

This is a great video Jim! Liked the tunnel.

[@Freewayjim]

My mistake, it's called "Chelsea Loft" do a you tube search with those words and you'll find it. (My apologies for the mix-up I have not played with it in a few years). I got it in a pack of loops for Apple's Garage Band a few years back but don't recall exactly where.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks for riding along, the song gave me a perfect break at that point.

[@jaygee7028]

My favorite part was seeing the Infiniti FX 35 at the beginning of the video

[@Freewayjim]

LOL, this is from last year but yes I take vacations and do my filming and photography in different parts of the country. Thanks for watching, it really makes it worthwhile.

[@LorenzoMoore1000]

Thank God that Baltimore has a real interchange system. Nice video.

[@2007markb]

Great video. The four stack is actually completed, they are currently erecting the new bridges for the express lanes

[@dave11686]

Always a great video when it involves a tunnel!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Yes indeed, I try to keep the music choices somewhat unpredictable.

[@gbp2]

Hey Road Geeks: Did you notice that the original interchange shown on a postcard is actually a "Diverging Diamond" interchange built with overpasses to allow it to work at freeway speeds? and we thought Diverging Diamonds were new! (Exit 64, I-695 at the Harbour Tunnel Throughway)

[@edwardmiessner6502]

I always called it a directional interchange. Left turns go from the left side of the highway, right turns from the right. It's very logical and much faster and safer than a cloverleaf. But they fell out of fashion for some reason 🤔

[@jmvfrva]

When I was a little kid and we used to drive through this tunnel, I found it hard to believe that the tunnel was under the water itself. I thought the tunnel rested on the river bed and was watertight.

[@lorenzomoore6398]

Learn something. Didn't know that I could pick up washington Blvd from 895 and I am Baltimore.

[@deby5983]

Eh, Freewayjim: This is awesome (do people still say that?) Anyway, love, love the music, the history lesson and especially the highlighting of road signs. You put a lot of time and effort into these videos. Thanks so much for uploading and...regardless of hip or not, I say:..."Totally Awesome!!"

[@ThatCodeBlue]

Jim, keep an eye out for the Maryland State Police Helicopters. They provide rescue services at no charge to Marylanders involved in life-threatening accidents. As far as I know, no other state does this. Just a lil' trivia for you.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks...the ramps are open on the I-95/I-695 interchange but not all of the work is done, there was still plenty of heavy machinery around there.

[@gbp2]

The orignal arrangement was if you got on the Throughway, you didn't get off until you had passed the tollgates. It was initially set up like that both ways. It was never meant to be a local freeway.

[@CosmoPhotography]

To borrow your expression, for faceless dance music, this song is pretty good haha. Nice choice and great video!

[@thomassodomizer764]

Great video.. Great music also

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you...Clinched means I completed the entire distance of a route, in this case I-895.

[@centuryrox]

The I-95/895 split has been reversed in recent years.. 95 used to exit to the right, and then swing to the left over top of 895. Also, the signage for 895 has been changed. It used to read 895 South - Annapolis/Bay Bridge. Although I said I like the Harbor Tunnel better than Ft McHenry tunnel, the one advantage the McHenry has is the outstanding view of downtown Baltimore on the south end of the tunnel. The Harbor Tunnel just exits into a rather industrialized area with no close views.

[@PGHammer21A]

That is entirely due to the HOT lanes(I-95 has them).

[@user-yy1rs3df3q]

You didn't stop by my house in Laurel to say hi. How rude. :P

[@bigburnize]

Less than two weeks, and I'll get to see this in person.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you, all my equipment is listed in the closing credits, I use Apple Final Cut Express 4.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks for watching!

[@Freewayjim]

It is a royalty free audio loop called Chelsea Flats, it's not a real song.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks and agreed on Baltimore's freeways, plus the few they didn't build.

[@Freewayjim]

I prefer the Fort McHenry Tunnel, no other underwater tunnels like that have are built on a long curve, plus it is the widest of its kind in the world, top notch engineering!

[@Freewayjim]

Not sure why there want's a "headlights sign", that is not the brightest inside of a tunnel I've ever seen.

[@jeffmoses6592]

I-895 the original Baltimore Tunnel carrying 301 and 95 prior to Ft McHenry Tunnel

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks and you assume right, No EZ-Pass, but I made that cut work to my advantage with the timing of the music.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks I appreciate that.

[@pizzasubs]

Seems strange, just watched a video you did in the Bay area, NOW I am watching one from Maryland, please dont tell me you drive from state to state to do these videos for us, if you do, you are one fantastic person to do this spending all that gas and everything to make these videos...Thanks.

[@ElectroGhandi]

I live in Baltimore and I hate the crap out of the Harbor Tunnel.

[@tolbs2002]

They had a diverging interchange that they removed. I-695 still crosses.

[@GamingBren]

Now, according to Google Maps, I-695 has been “un-crossed” and stays on the right. It also has 6 lanes through the interchange now instead of 4

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks Kyle!

[@wipandco]

At first glance, I was bewildered by the $300 toll at 2:50, but then I went back, paused and realized it was only 3.00. "Over Height Detectors Ahead", "Remove Sunglasses".. You guys think of everything, although I saw no "Turn On Headlights" sign.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, lol, supposedly there are some signs like this on the PA Turnpike.

[@centuryrox]

Always nice to see videos of my home town! Having lived in Baltimore all my life, I've always preferred the old Harbor Tunnel over the Ft McHenry tunnel. To me, the old one has more character, and you actually FELT like you were in a tunnel. McHenry was fun when it first opened, but after the newness wore off, it became rather boring. Great video, Jim, as usual! P.S. Is that 4-stack at I-695 not completed? I drove through there a while back and it appeared that all ramps were open.

[@donavanjohnson409]

I have not seen a tunnel in person before

[@bigburnize]

Now that I think about it, I think it's the FMT all the maps are showing me to use. Either way, nice videos.

[@deepbluesong5067]

It is such a nightmare especially if you are driving there for the first time

[@brilliantgenius1]

So which is the one they're doing the construction on? The truss bridge just after the tunnel?

[@Freewayjim]

I thought that too as a child, lol!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks Johnny! yeah this one's been around a while :)

[@ATP2555ify]

6:25 I haven't been down that way in a while, I never knew they put tall lights there.

[@pxl7]

Great Videos / Great Music. i live it all what software for Cutting do you use?

[@DistractionCascade]

darn toll is $4.00 both ways now. Drove through twice over Labor Day weekend.

[@Freewayjim]

It depends on the size of the file you are trying to upload, this was about 670MB so it took maybe 30-35 minutes. Also, the speed of your internet service can have a lot to do with it.

[@Freewayjim]

I agree, I think Baltimore is pretty interesting.

[@dmitrivalencia]

yes the music was nice and upbeat! But the footages were very nice, especially the tunnel, i feel like i am in japan!

[@necroslair]

Nice work, Jim! BTW, by the cut at the toll plaza, I assume you don't use E-ZPass? Thanks for the ride, as always...

[@Freewayjim]

Johan Yogi, I post this and the album info in the closing credits :(

[@ATP2555ify]

1:17 Ah! The old days, before they put the high mast lights up

[@brilliantgenius1]

LOL No stopping or standing during snow emergency! As if that would be a problem...

[@americandream20]

@freewayjim this is my birthstate Maryland I was born in Cheverly Maryland

[@Freewayjim]

Just "Clinched", it means I completed the entire distance of a route, in this case I-895.

[@benlonghighway]

What does "clinched" mean? By the way, great video! :)

[@Beard695]

They are remaking the I-95/I-695 interchange to a 4 level stack then to a 5 or 6 level stack.It will be bigger then the high five interchange!

[@Cinnamongirl201002]

Awesome! Does anybody know what the music is?

[@gbp2]

I studied the interchange and, although it shares traits with the diverging diamond, it wasn't. Ramps to the left Exited left and entered from the left. But it was a unique idea for the early '60s...

[@liamh1015]

the harbor tunnel was built in 1955, not the 60s

[@WaterSlideLover98]

He was talking about the interchange at 1:24

[@benlonghighway]

Wow!

[@Freewayjim]

LOL thanks, some faceless dance music actually is pretty good.

[@sungeek2438]

Cool

[@jonathanashbeck3740]

That's a pretty long tunnel.

[@Freewayjim]

Nice! But FWIW I-95 and the Fort McHenry Tunnel is a more impressive route.

[@PGHammer21A]

True - which is why I chose the Fort McHenry when I drove it myself for the first time. (The Harbor Tunnel was the *routine* choice - the Fort McHenry was not!

[@johncole273]

Wow

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, Baltimore only has two stacks so they would lose there :)

[@Jaws8475]

Seriously? You would call Baltimore generic...?

[@Freewayjim]

It's OK, it happens all the time :)

[@Freewayjim]

LOL, thanks!

[@antwuanblue9318]

Interstate 95 & 895

[@antyboy017]

but why get on 895

[@huntervkindle]

1965LizzyMiss it use to be the only way to go before the ft mchenry tunnel. i use it because i live closer to 895 than 95.

[@allenturner36]

1sr mariner bank iota sweetheart's

[@noahklempner3333]

0:57 No Hazardous Materials 🔶 on this tunnel 🚇

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!