STORMS EACH AFTERNOON POSSIBLE. AVA, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. WE’RE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING NEWS OUT OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. A PORTION OF I-97 NORTH HAS BUCKLED IN THE HEAT HERE. AS A RESULT, ALL LANES EXCEPT THE LEFT SHOULDER ARE SHUT DOWN. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT’S BROUGHT TRAFFIC TO A STANDSTILL AS DRIVERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH. THEY’RE BEING TOLD TO USE RITCHIE HIGHWAY TONIGHT.
I-97 pavement buckles in heat, closing northbound lanes in Anne Arundel County
Updated: 10:46 PM EDT Jul 3, 2026
Officials closed northbound Interstate 97 Friday evening in Anne Arundel County after pavement buckled in the heat. Check our LIVE traffic map and cameras in the WBAL-TV 11 News appAccording to Anne Arundel County police, the Maryland State Highway Administration shut down the northbound lanes of I-97 between Benfield Boulevard and New Cut Road.The SHA said pavement buckled as a result of the heat in the northbound lanes of I-97 near the Maryland Routes 3/32 split. All but the left shoulder was shut down.Ritchie Highway or Maryland Routes 10 or 100 are recommended as alternate routes.The SHA said the closure may last for some time and that crews were at the scene assessing the damage.The left southbound lane was closed for some time for the same issue in the same vicinity, the SHA said. The lane has since reopened, but all northbound lanes remained closed as of 7:45 p.m.There was no immediate timeline for the repairs to the I-97 pavement.
SEVERNA PARK, Md. —
Officials closed northbound Interstate 97 Friday evening in Anne Arundel County after pavement buckled in the heat.
According to Anne Arundel County police, the Maryland State Highway Administration shut down the northbound lanes of I-97 between Benfield Boulevard and New Cut Road.
The SHA said pavement buckled as a result of the heat in the northbound lanes of I-97 near the Maryland Routes 3/32 split. All but the left shoulder was shut down.
Ritchie Highway or Maryland Routes 10 or 100 are recommended as alternate routes.
The SHA said the closure may last for some time and that crews were at the scene assessing the damage.
The left southbound lane was closed for some time for the same issue in the same vicinity, the SHA said. The lane has since reopened, but all northbound lanes remained closed as of 7:45 p.m.
There was no immediate timeline for the repairs to the I-97 pavement.