The Details
Located in Baltimore, MD, the Francis Scott Key Bridge is a major bridge facility on I-695. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in Maryland.
Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning the Patapsco River in Baltimore, was opened in 1977 as the final link in Interstate 695. With 10.9 miles in length (including the bridge and approach roadways, the bridge itself is 1.6 miles) and is the longest bridge in the Baltimore metropolitan area. It’s also known as the Outer Harbor Bridge or the Key Bridge.
Francis Scott Key Bridge – overview
The Bridge was officially renamed from Outer Harbor Crossing to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 1977. It spans the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor/Port in Baltimore. It’s the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world. Upon completion, the Key Bridge became the final link in I-695, however, it is officially considered part of the state highway system and designated Maryland Route 695. The Maryland Transportation Authority operates it.
The bridge was widened to four lanes between the Maryland Route 10 interchange and the western approach to the Baltimore Harbor Bridge between 1980 and 1983. In 1999, the project of construction to widen the last remaining segment of 2 lane Outer Harbor Crossing was completed. Today, Francis Scott Key Bridge carries almost 11.5 million vehicles each year.
Francis Scott Key Bridge tolls
In the table below, you can see toll rates for Francis Scott Key Bridge depending on whether you have an E-ZPass or not.
Vehicle / axle count | E-ZPass Maryland rate | Non-E-ZPass Maryland rate |
Commuter | $1.40 | |
2-axle | $3.00 | $4.00 |
3-axle | $8.00 | $8.00 |
4-axle | $12.00 | $12.00 |
When it comes to commercial vehicle toll rates, rates are as follows:
Axle count | E-ZPass rate | Video-rate |
3-axle | $8.00 | $12.00 |
4-axle | $12.00 | $18.00 |
5-axle | $24.00 | $36.00 |
+5-axle | $30.00 | $45.00 |
The bridge is an all-electronic facility, so no cash payments are possible. Drivers can pay cashless tolls using E-ZPass or video tolling. The MDTA (Maryland Transportation Authority) is actually one of the industry leaders by instituting all-electronic tolling in most toll facilities. E-ZPass users can save up to 25% on toll rates.
Francis Scott Key Bridge – additional information
The name of the bridge is after Key, the author of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’, the national anthem of the United States. The writer of the lyrics to this patriotic melody was a resident of Georgetown in the early 19th century. Francis Scott Key was believed to have witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry on the evening of September 12, 1814. The battle inspired him to write the words of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’. The bridge is a skillfully designed reinforced concrete arch bridge. It was first built to provide automotive, trolley, and pedestrian transit. Nathan C. Wyeth designed the bridge in 1916 and it was immediately considered a symbol of elegance and simple classical design. When the bridge was completed in 1924, it replaced Aqueduct Bridge as the new Georgetown River crossing. The old bridge was the final transportation role of the Potomac Aqueduct that connected the C&O Canal and the Alexandria Canal.
Here on Uproad.com, you'll find the most up-to-date Francis Scott Key Bridge toll information. From Francis Scott Key Bridge toll prices to payment options, Uproad lets you know the rules of the road.
And, if you drive a lot and are looking for a new toll payment account without a transponder or toll tag, you've come to the right place! With an Uproad app account, you'll pay tolls as you go with your mobile phone.
