New Bay Bridge Span: MD Has Another Chance To Comment On Proposal

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Marylanders have another chance to comment on the potential third span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Planners want to hear how the possible crossing would affect public transit, bicyclists and pedestrians in the communities near the bridge.

The Maryland Transportation Authority is hosting a virtual town hall to hear this feedback on June 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Information on how to participate in the town hall is posted at the bottom of this story.

How We Got Here

A potential third span is still years away.

Highway officials are currently conducting a traffic and environmental review to determine the best way to relieve traffic around the Bay Bridge.

This analysis is required for all projects that need federal funding or approval under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Federal Highway Administration manages this process. The evaluation has two tiers.

Maryland conducted a Tier 1 Study from fall 2017 through spring 2022. This phase evaluated more than a dozen corridors to construct a new span. The study also considered the potential for not building a new span at all.

Tier 1 concluded that the best option is to build a third span near the existing two crossings in Annapolis. This area, known as Corridor 7, is 22 miles long and 2 miles wide. It runs from the Severn River Bridge on the Western Shore to the split of U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 301 on the Eastern Shore.

What's Next

This $28 million Tier 2 Study started in June 2022.

Over the next several years, the study will examine the traffic and environmental effects of building a crossing somewhere within this corridor. It will also evaluate alternatives like not building another crossing and using ferries or transit instead.

Officials expect to finish Tier 2 in fall 2026.

At that point, Maryland will have an official suggestion on if and where exactly it should build a third crossing.

The funding, design and construction processes would likely take several years beyond that.

Reactions To Bay Bridge Proposals

Leaders agree that traffic continues to be a problem near the Bay Bridge. With 27.6 million crossings in 2019, the bridge has been one of Maryland's worst bottlenecks for years.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman was unhappy and unsurprised with the state's preferred corridor near Annapolis, but he wants to make the best of the situation.

"While we would have preferred a crossing that would draw traffic to other corridors, we must now work to ensure that the next phase of study protects our existing communities and environmentally-sensitive areas," Pittman said in an April 2022 press release. "We must also explore future traffic patterns along the whole Route 50 corridor, including options for public transit, shifts from sprawl development to smart growth, and telecommuting."

Patch contacted Gov. Wes Moore's office for a comment on his Bay Bridge goals. We have not yet gotten a response. We will update this story if we hear back.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan, on the other hand, always preferred building an additional span in Annapolis.

"There is only one option I will ever accept: adding a third span to our existing Bay Bridge," Hogan said on Twitter in 2019. "While the federal process requires multiple proposals, the data is indisputable — this option would maximize congestion relief and minimize environmental impact."

By 2040, Hogan said traffic is projected to grow by 22 percent on non-summer weekdays and 14 percent on summer weekends.

How To Participate In Town Hall

Details on how to join the June 27 community meeting are posted at baycrossingstudy.com. Anybody who needs accommodations for their language or disability can learn how to get assistance at this link.

Residents can also share their thoughts in writing by midnight, July 11 by:

• Submitting an electronic survey/comment form at baycrossingstudy.com
• Emailing comments to info@baycrossingstudy.com
• Printing and mailing a completed survey/comment form to:
• Bay Crossing Study
• 2310 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224

The Maryland Transportation Authority will host additional open houses in September to give updates on the study. Those dates haven't been announced yet.

Related:

• Bay Bridge Drivers Get Earlier Warning Of Lane Closures Via New Signs
• Bay Bridge Deck Replacement To Bring Closures Starting In Fall 2023
• Bay Bridge Traffic Relief: Temporary Traffic Light Coming To Ramp
• New Bay Bridge Span Inches Closer To Reality, MD Launches Next Step
• New Bay Bridge Crossing: MD Officially Proposes Location For 3rd Span