The extreme heat caused a concrete section of Interstate 97 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to buckle on Friday.

Near the Brightview Drive overpass, a long section of concrete failed from shoulder to shoulder, with slabs of concrete and rebar thrust upward across all three northbound travel lanes.

“These high temperatures have totally stressed the pavements, both asphalt and concrete,” Charlie Gischlar, spokesperson for the Maryland State Highway Administration, told WTOP. “Asphalt absorbs heat, of course, and you know, heavy vehicles sitting in a right lane at a traffic signal or something can start to have that heave.”

He added that it’ll be an extended closure and recommends drivers take different routes.

“We do have crews on the scene right now, but we do have to do some work on that roadway and some of that involves having some materials put down to fill in where it was stressed and that might take some time to cure,” Gischlar said.

Initially, Maryland Department of Transportation crews allowed northbound traffic to drive through the grass on the median to get around the mound of damaged concrete. Northbound traffic is being diverted to Benfield Boulevard and Veterans Highway.

A second, smaller section of concrete damage was discovered later Friday afternoon in the southbound lanes nearby. Two left lanes were blocked.

During the record-breaking heat wave in July 2012, a section of Route 50 buckled near Bowie.

Unlike asphalt repairs, concrete repairs are more time-consuming and can require extended lane closures. Drivers who normally take I-97 from Annapolis toward Baltimore should plan on possible delays through the holiday weekend.

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On Thursday, Baltimore Gas and Electric filed a rate hike request with the Maryland Public Service Commission affecting over 1 million customers.

The filing states that Maryland electric bills would increase by an average of $100 a year, which would equal about $8 a month if approved in full.

“Today’s announcement may be the boiling point for Baltimore residents bracing for dangerously high temperatures this holiday weekend, worried about paying to keep their homes cool after a decade of rising BGE bills,” said Emily Scarr, Maryland PIRG Foundation Senior Advisor.

A press release from BGE states that the rate case filed “aligns with a significantly reduced investment strategy focused almost entirely on the most immediate risks to the electric system.”

“Nothing matters more to our customers right now than affordability,” said Tamla Olivier, president and CEO of BGE. “We heard clearly that customers are feeling pressure from rising costs across every aspect of their lives. That’s why we delayed this filing, took a hard look at our plans, and reduced investments to only the bare-bones maintenance the system needs.”

BGE says the filing focuses on maintaining the electric system, which includes maintaining its reliability and substations, and introducing a new customer assistance program.

The utility company said that while it has reduced and delayed investments to help limit customer impacts, there is a clear tradeoff to continued reductions.

“There is no scenario where we can stop maintaining the electric system altogether. We made deliberate decisions to postpone large bodies of work, future-focused projects, and replacement of aging equipment,” Olivier said. “As the region’s power needs grow, and weather-related impacts become more frequent and severe, delaying essential maintenance for too long ultimately leads to more outages, longer restoration times, more emergency repairs, and higher costs for customers in the future.”

BGE says the filing includes a FlexPay program that would allow eligible customers to prepay their anticipated energy use.

According to consumer advocates at the Office of the People’s Counsel, BGE electric delivery rates nearly doubled in 2010, increasing at about twice the rate of inflation.

BGE profits have increased from $147 million in 2010 to $578 million in 2025, driven by a combination of increased gas and electric capital spending and a high profit rate, according to the PIRG Foundation.

Gas delivery rates have tripled since 2010.

“We plan to review this latest rate hike request in detail, but have serious concerns that as BGE rates and profits skyrocket, customers are facing systematic failures of customer service and safety. We call on the Commission to take a serious look at BGE’s spending and reject its request for an excessive profit rate,” Scarr said.

The filing will be reviewed by the Maryland Public Service Commission during a proceeding over the next several months, which will include public input, according to BGE.

For the new rates to take effect, the commission would have to enter an order, which would be expected in early 2027.

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When it comes to tipped individuals, employers are required to pay at least $4 per hour and ensure that the total tipped amount and hourly pay match the county’s minimum wage standards.

Gas Prices To See Slight Spike

A release issued by the Comptroller of Maryland states the gas tax will increase to 46.6 cents per gallon, a roughly six-tenths bump from current levels. For diesel fuel, drivers will see taxes jump to 47.5 cents per gallon.

The spike, which is in addition to the federal tax that amounts to 18.4 cents per gallon, marks the first increase in two years for the state.

Excusing Students For Civic Engagement

Each of Maryland’s county school boards must include provisions that allow for an excused or discretionary absence for any student participating in civic engagement activities, which range from providing testimony to meeting with lawmakers and taking part in a Maryland General Assembly program.

Free Menstrual Hygiene Products

All higher education institutions with on-campus housing will be required to provide free menstrual hygiene products in health centers on or before Aug. 1, 2028.