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Which tunnel fits your trip?
MDTA identifies I-95 through the Fort McHenry Tunnel and I-895 through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel as alternate harbor crossings around the Key Bridge closure. The choice is primarily a matter of route fit, not a standing travel-time advantage.
| Factor | Fort McHenry Tunnel | Baltimore Harbor Tunnel |
|---|---|---|
| Highway | I-95 | I-895 |
| Connection and configuration | Eight lanes; nearly 1.4 miles; connects Locust Point and Canton. | Four lanes; 1.4 miles; connects major north-south highways and industrial sections of Baltimore City. |
| Opened | November 1985. | November 1957. |
| Key restrictions | Specified hazardous materials are prohibited. Check current official guidance for unusual vehicles and loads; do not assume the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel’s dimensional limits apply here. | Specified hazardous materials, vehicles over 13 ft 6 in high or 96 in (8 ft) wide, and double trailers are prohibited. |
| Best route fit | Trips whose origin, destination and planned route favor I-95, provided the vehicle and cargo are allowed. | Trips whose origin, destination and planned route favor I-895, provided the vehicle and cargo are allowed. |
Use MDTA’s Key Bridge information for current closure details and linked updates rather than relying on an old detour map. The closure endpoints and traffic pattern can change.
How do I choose between the two?
- Map the whole trip, including where you enter and leave the Baltimore area. Favor I-95 and Fort McHenry or I-895 and Baltimore Harbor according to the route that serves those points more directly.
- Check whether the vehicle and any cargo are allowed through the selected tunnel. Commercial drivers should verify dimensions, trailer configuration and hazardous-material rules before departure.
- Check live traffic and official advisories shortly before leaving. Incidents, weather, holidays, rush-hour demand and maintenance closures can change conditions.
MDTA warns of increased traffic on both I-95 and I-895, with longer rush-hour periods and delays. Because conditions change, there is no supported general answer to “Which tunnel is faster?” The live queue and any closures may outweigh the usual route fit.
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What should I check before departure?
- Live traffic: Check the CHART real-time map for incidents and current conditions. The interactive page requires JavaScript.
- Closures and maintenance: Recheck MDTA’s Harbor Crossings page and Key Bridge information for current advisories, tunnel work and closure details. Overnight tube closures can affect travel.
- Commercial routing: Consult FMCSA’s official detour resources, MDOT SHA Commercial Vehicle Operations and applicable Maryland hazardous-material rules. FMCSA lists private routing resources but does not endorse those applications; official MDTA and SHA requirements govern.
Can a truck or unusual load use either tunnel?
Both tunnel facility pages prohibit specified hazardous materials, including categories such as propane, gasoline, explosives and radioactive materials. MDTA’s Harbor Crossings guidance also identifies propane cylinders above 10 pounds per container, up to 10 containers, among restricted cases. The precise rule depends on the material and circumstances, so confirm the classification and permitted route with official guidance before travel.
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel limits
MDTA expressly prohibits vehicles over 13 ft 6 in high, over 96 in (8 ft) wide, and all double trailers from the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Do not choose I-895 if the vehicle exceeds these posted dimensions or uses a prohibited trailer configuration.
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Fort McHenry Tunnel limits
MDTA’s Fort McHenry facility page lists hazardous-material prohibitions but does not state the same 13 ft 6 in height and 8 ft width limits as applying to that tunnel. That distinction is not proof that every unusual or oversized vehicle may use Fort McHenry. Check current specifications, permits and routing requirements with MDOT SHA before travel.
If the vehicle is barred from the harbor crossings
A May 8, 2024 Federal Register notice identified the western section of I-695 around the tunnels as an alternative for vehicles prohibited from the harbor crossings. That notice records historical detour guidance, not a substitute for current directions. Verify the route with MDTA, SHA and current FMCSA resources before dispatching a commercial vehicle.
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What traffic figures do—and do not—tell you
The Federal Highway Administration reported approximately 34,121 vehicles as the Key Bridge’s average daily traffic in 2023. That is a pre-collapse historical figure, not current traffic at either tunnel or a forecast of detour volumes.
MDTA facility pages list traffic volume in both directions as 27.6 million vehicles for Baltimore Harbor and 45.4 million for Fort McHenry, but the captured pages do not specify the measurement year. Those figures therefore should not be treated as a current, like-for-like comparison or used to predict which route will be quicker.
The Key Bridge rebuild site reported Fall 2026 construction activity, including continuing permanent foundation pile installation and offsite pile fabrication, with trestle construction near completion. Rebuild progress and timing can change; consult MDTA’s current traffic pages rather than relying on a projected reopening date.
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