Maryland takes key step toward constructing new Chesapeake Bay Bridge

By Thomas Robertson

The Maryland Transportation Authority has secured final environmental approval from the federal government for a new Bay Bridge, settling on two new four-lane bridges with full shoulders that would follow the path of current bridge as the preferred route for the project.

The Federal Highway Administration’s approval of the Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement marks the conclusion of the study into constructing new spans over the bay and provides the transportation authority with an approved path forward for the multibillion-dollar project.

The project also includes the widening of U.S. 50/301 to eight lanes from west of Oceanic Drive to east of Cox Creek to support traffic transitions to the new crossing. The transportation authority said it will also consider adding a bike and pedestrian path along the bridge.

In addition to being wider, the new spans will also be taller to accommodate passage of larger oceangoing ships going to and from the Port of Baltimore. Plans call for the new bay bridge span to have a navigational clearance of 230 feet, the same height as the new Francis Scott Key Bridge that’s underway over the Patapsco River.

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Design of both new, four-lane bridge spans is slated to begin in 2028, and construction could begin as soon as 2032, according to the transportation authority. Earlier forecasts put the cost of the project between $15 billion and $17 billion.

“I’m very excited to get a chance to move forward with the next step on just creating a smoother travel experience for those who drive over the bridge,” Gov. Wes Moore told WTOP.

Along with nearly doubling the capacity of the existing bridges, which will be removed as part of the plan, the project will add $23 billion to the local economy and create more than 60,000 jobs, the transportation authority said.

“The public-input process was deeply valuable to the success of this study, and our team engaged with thousands of residents, community members, drivers and elected officials on both sides of the bay to ensure a collaborative approach for all stakeholders,” Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner said in a statement.

All major federal actions must go through the federal environmental review process that this project just passed. The review included public open houses, public hearings and attendance at over 120 community events throughout the study area, according to the transportation authority, which received more than 5,600 comments and survey responses during the study.

“We’re just adding this to the list of incredibly important and big projects that we are working on and working through and working in partnership with the federal administration on,” Moore said. “Because of the historic speed and the historic projects that we are getting done in the state of Maryland, we want to make sure that with this administration, that we are making sure these projects are getting done and getting done quickly and efficiently.”

– As part of Maryland Matters’ content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Thomas Robertson. Click here for the WTOP News website.