Updated: Crews Will Assess Damage to Interstate 695 Overpass Overnight

(Updated 6:15 p.m.) All lanes of the outer loop of I-695 are open after crews with State Highway Administration removed a sign severely damaged by an over-sized vehicle this afternoon.

Starting tonight after 10 p.m., SHA engineers will conduct more safety tests of the overpass. After 10 p.m. tonight, one lane of the outer loop will be closed and 2 lanes on I-95 South, SHA spokesman David Buck said.

(Updated 4:45 p.m.) One lane of I-95 South has been closed as crews work to remove the damaged sign that was struck by an oversized vehicle earlier this afternoon. 

Currently crews are removing the damaged sign that tells drivers of the exit for I-895 ahead. Once the sign is removed, crews expect to re-open all lanes of the outer loop a little after 5 p.m., spokesman David Buck said.

(original story) Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday, an oversized vehicle traveling on the outer loop of Interstate 695 just south of Interstate 95 struck one of the overpasses, according to State Highway Administration.

The incident is between the exits for Wilkens Avenue on the outer loop and Washington Boulevard on the inner loop.

SHA officials are warning that multiple lanes are affected and traffic is backing up on the outer loop of the Beltway. The overpass was damaged, including the sign structure and one of the beams on the bridge, according to SHA spokesman David Buck.

SHA engineers are currently inspecting the damage, he said.

Currently one of two lanes of the outer loop are closed, as well the right merge lane of the outer loop.

SHA officials are asking drivers to take I-95 South to I-195 to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway as a way to detour around the area.

A live feed from SHA's traffic camera can be viewed here.

In 1999, one person was killed after an oversized vehicle struck the Maiden Choice footbridge over the Beltway.

This summer, a the Crosby Road overpass in Catonsville, which caused delays. The bridge was determined to be structurally sound soon after the incident occurred.