MSP release

ANTICIPATED TRAFFIC DELAYS DURING SERVICES FOR FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER

(Pikesville, MD) – Although a coordinated effort among state, county and city agencies is underway to ensure the funeral services for Maryland’s former Governor William Donald Schaefer go smoothly, Maryland State Police, allied police agencies and State Highway Administration officials are warning that motorists traveling through the Annapolis, Baltimore City and Baltimore County areas, may encounter possible traffic delays, detours and potential road closures on Monday, April 25 through Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Maryland State Police are working with personnel from the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Anne Arundel County Police, Annapolis Police Department, Baltimore City Police, Baltimore County Police, and the Maryland National Guard to coordinate traffic routes in the Annapolis, Baltimore and Timonium areas. The goal of this combined effort is to ensure the funeral procession travels as expeditiously as possible and creates few delays as possible for other motorists.

Beginning at about 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25th, Governor Schaefer’s funeral and his motorcade will depart the Maryland State House in Annapolis to begin a Farewell Tour of Baltimore City. Although road closures are not anticipated on the journey from Annapolis to Baltimore City, motorists are cautioned to expect possible delays in traffic.

The motorcade will depart Annapolis by way of Rowe Boulevard. It will then travel west on Route 50, merge onto northbound I-97 towards Baltimore and then merge onto I-695 West towards Towson. From the inner loop of I-695, they will travel onto I-95 North and exit at Caton Avenue to begin the Baltimore City Farewell Tour. Motorists can expect temporary road closures to occur during the motorcade tour of Baltimore landmarks.

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011, beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m., motorists can again anticipate temporary road closures during the procession. It will travel from Old St. Paul’s Church, located at 233 Charles Street and proceed to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.

Departing Old St. Paul’s Church, the procession will travel north on Charles Street. It will proceed to the entrance of the Jones Falls Expressway near Penn Station at Mount Royal Avenue to the inner loop of I-695. It will then travel northbound I-83 and merge onto eastbound Padonia Road, crossing York Road and into Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

There will be coordinated road closures and re-openings as it proceeds to the cemetery. Police urge motorists to plan ahead for temporary road and ramp closures on I-83 and the inner and outer loops of I-695 in the Towson area.

Every effort will be made to maintain the flow and efficiency of traffic on Monday, April 25 and Wednesday, April 27, 2011. The State Highway Administration will have signs, message boards, radio travel advisories and personnel on all the routes to direct motorists, in addition to law enforcement officers working posts throughout the area

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