Bay Bridge Safe To Cross, Officials Say After Concerning Photo

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Bay Bridge is safe to cross, officials said Monday after a photo circulating online appeared to show a shifted support column.

"The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is aware of images circulating on social media of a section of the westbound Chesapeake Bay Bridge," the agency that operates the crossing said on Facebook. "We want to reassure the public that both spans of the bridge are safe."

The beam in question is closer to the Kent Island side of the bridge, the photo poster said.

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"MDTA conducts rigorous routine condition inspections on all its facilities, and ensuring the safety of these critical structures is the MDTA's highest priority," the MDTA said. "MDTA conducted an inspection of the pier yesterday and confirmed that there is no indication of movement or distress at the location."

The MDTA acknowledged that the photo is concerning at first glance, but it said the supports are all in the correct location.

"While the image of the pier cap appears off-centered, the bridge girders - the key structural components supporting the span - are aligned and centered with the pier cap," the MDTA said. "Importantly, the positioning has not changed since the bridge's construction."

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