Fort McHenry Tunnel

On November 23, 1985 the final link in I-95 opened. The Ft. McHenry Tunnel carried the interstate under Baltimore's harbor and completed the major north-south route of the East Coast. It is the world's largest submerged tube tunnel for vehicular traffic. Initially a bridge was considered, but a tunnel was decided on to preserve the view from Ft. McHenry. The site was first dredged and the soil was transplanted to the near the Canton Industrial Park. The disposal site was eventually converted by the Maryland Transit Authority into the Seagrit Marine Terminal. The Tunnel sections were prefabricated, floated into the Harbor, and sunk into place. The tube fabrication and placement was the largest singular construction project ever undertaken by the National Interstate and Defense Highway System and cost $425 million. The world's first tunnel sections with both horizontal and vertical curvature were required to avoid tunneling beneath Ft. McHenry. It is a toll tunnel, maintained by the MTA.

Facts and Figures

Directions

Crosses Baltimore's Harbor under the Patscpo River

Length: 8800 ft., 32 tubes

Budget: $825 million

The tunnel lies on the I-95 between exits 55 and 57.

To get there from the Inner Harbor take Light St. South.
Turn left on to the Key Hwy. Stay on the Key Hwy. Eventually it passes under the interstate and then runs along side it.
Exit onto the I-95, the tunnel will immediately follow.

Map

References:

www.mdarchives.state.md.us

Fort McHenry Tunnel Dedication Booklet.