Beltway Outer Loop to reopen at Curtis Creek
With work on the Curtis Creek drawbridge complete -- for now at least --the Maryland Transportation Authority will open the Outer Loop of the Beltway in the vicinity of Maryland Route 10 Friday morning at 7.a.m. Authority spokeswoman Teri Moss said the time of the opening had been moved forward because of a snowstorm expected to arrive later Friday.
When the Outer Loop opens, the authority will stop two-way operations on the Inner Loop. One lane of the Inner Loop will remain closed until about next Thursday. Inner Loop traffic will continue in the single remaining lane.
Inner Loop traffic will be held up periodically tonight (Thursday ) between 7 p.m. and midnight to test the bridge mechanism. The authority will also be conducting traffic drags -- designed to slow vehicles -- on the Outer Loop from midnight to 7 a.m. The authority suggest that motorists use an alternate route such as Interstate 895 or Interstate 95.
This week's traffic pattern changes will be followed by additional lane closings next week and a five-week closing of the Inner Loop at the drawbridge starting Feb. 24.
