Maryland transit officials say they have a plan to build a new Chesapeake Bay Bridge, tear down existing bridge spans and ease traffic.
After years of weighing the options, the Maryland Transportation Authority Board will vote on Thursday on the “recommended preferred alternative” for the future of the bridge, state transportation officials said Tuesday.
The plan known as “Alternative C” would construct two four-lane bridge spans and tear down the existing bridge spans.
“This recommendation is an exciting step that moves us closer to a Bay crossing that provides a smoother travel experience for those who drive over the bridge and the Marylanders who live by it,” Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle said in a statement. “Alternative C is the option that best supports Marylanders’ current and future daily travel needs with the least environmental impact on our treasured Chesapeake Bay.”
The new bridge spans would be about 50 feet taller, to match the height of the new Key Bridge being built in Baltimore. That would allow for larger container ships to pass underneath and through the busy Port of Baltimore.
It’s not clear yet who would pay all the costs, which are expected to be in the billions.
Transit officials say the plan includes:
- “Two new four-lane bridge spans with full shoulders across the Chesapeake Bay, enhancing safety while providing additional transportation capacity, reliability and mobility”
- “Removal of the existing Bay Bridge spans, addressing existing roadway deficiencies including narrow lanes and lack of shoulders, eliminating the need for major rehabilitation projects and associated lane closures and delays, and increasing navigational clearance to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The navigational clearance will match that of the new Key Bridge, allowing larger ships to access the Port of Baltimore”
- “Widening of US 50/301 to eight lanes (four per direction) from west of Oceanic Drive to east of Cox Creek to accommodate transitions to the new crossing”
- “Financial commitments for transit-related improvements”
- “An optional bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path, which the MDTA will further evaluate to determine if it should be included.”
How the replacement and removal of bridge spans would work
Two new four-lane spans with full shoulders would be built in phases next to the existing spans. One by one, the old spans would be removed.
“The way we would do that is to build a new four-lane eastbound bridge south of the existing bridges, then we would remove the old eastbound bridge. We would build a new westbound bridge between the location of the old bridges and then remove the old westbound bridge,” Melissa Williams with the state transportation authority explained.
She said with the phased build, traffic will never lose any capacity during construction and this building method has the most limited environmental impact.
“Alternative C best fulfills the study’s purpose and need while considering environmental and financial responsibility,” Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner said in a statement. “Of the build alternatives, it is the most cost-effective, impacts the least amount of natural, socio-economic and cultural resources. It would enhance safety with full shoulders and wider lanes, bring between $17 to $23 billion into the local economy, and create 61,300 to 75,600 jobs with 76% direct employment of construction workers.”
A study that began in summer 2022 weighed seven options for the bridge’s future. Under the selected plan, construction would begin in summer 2032.
Government agencies and members of the public will have opportunities to comment on the plan starting in January. Public hearings will be held in February, officials said.
The board meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday.
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