I-95 Roadway Signage Replacement

Along a 35-mile stretch of Interstate 95, roadway signage for 19 wayfindings were removed / replaced for two service areas north of Baltimore, MD. As a multi-discipline firm, McLaren Engineering Group was able to provide topographic surveying, civil engineering, geotechnical phase support, and structural engineering design for the roadway signage support structures.

Improvements consisted of three types of I-95’s roadway signage:

Overhead Signs, supported on framing that spanned over all travel lanes in each direction (2 each)
Cantilever Signs, supported on one side that overhung the travel lanes (8 each)
Ground Mounted Signs, supported by posts on the side of the road (9 each)

Surveying

McLaren performed surveys of roadside conditions at all conceptual sign locations so detailed sign siting could avoid utilities and meet appropriate clearances. In order to locate bedrock, McLaren managed the geotechnical borings at the sign locations.

Design Standards

With the site survey performed and an understanding of the subsurface conditions, McLaren prepared signage plans for the removal of existing signs and the installation of new signs all located within the Maryland Transit Authority (MDTA) right-of-way. The plans meet the current design standards of MDSHA Book of Standards for Highways, Incidental Structures, and Traffic Control Operations, MDOT SHA Traffic Control Devices Design Manual, MD Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Standards and MDOT SHA Guidelines for Traffic Barrier Placement and End Treatment Design.

Calculations

Two of I-95’s roadway cantilever signs, directing travelers to a memorial in one of the service areas, were outside of the standard size allowed by state highway standards. McLaren provided calculations justifying the larger signs at these locations and were granted approval by the state highway’s structural engineering group.

I-95 Roadway Signage Construction

During construction, McLaren provided shop drawing review for fabrication of all sign support structures to help the contractor meet accelerated fabrication and delivery schedules required by the MDTA. Plans included: