Bay Bridge Traffic Jams Prompt MDTA Toll Changes

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Motorists stuck on the Bay Bridge Monday, Sept. 30, weren't the only ones unimpressed with the massive traffic jam that stemmed from the bridge's two-year redecking project. Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman criticized state transportation officials on social Monday for not implementing cashless, all-electronic tolling at the Bay Bridge to ease traffic congestion. The Maryland Transportation Authority responded and plans to offer the cashless tolling option from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays for the duration of the project.

“MD Transportation Authority announced last Thursday that all-electric (sic) tolling would begin at the Key Bridge and Hatem Bridge in October to keep traffic moving,” Pittman wrote on Facebook Monday morning. “What about the Bay Bridge? Friday was nearly standstill for hours as they shut down a lane for re-decking. HOURS!”

The Maryland Transportation Authority announced Sept. 26 that all-electronic tolling would begin at Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge starting Oct. 16 and on the Francis Scott Key Bridge Oct. 30. Ironically, on Sept. 27, a signficant backup on Route 50 prompted Maryland's transportation secretary to suspend tolls for two hours to ease congestion that day.

"...shutting down a lane for redecking before implementing the all-electric and variable tolling does nothing but steal precious hours from our lives that we’d much rather spend with our families," Pittman wrote on Facebook.

Pittman told the Capital Gazette that not providing all-electronic tolling for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made “a bad situation worse in my mind.”

“They know that it would improve the traffic flow on our side on Fridays, and they’ve not done it,” he said.

A $27 million construction project on the westbound span started last week and is expected to take an estimated two years to complete. The project will replace the bridge decking and make other repairs. The MdTA, which oversees toll facilities in Maryland, suspended tolls at that bridge from 8:52 p.m. until 11:20 p.m. on Friday when the back-ups cleared.

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the afternoon, the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on its Facebook page that to help minimize traffic congestion during the Bay Bridge rehabilitation project, cashless tolling would be in effect from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays for the duration of the project. That will allow cash drivers to move through the toll plaza without stopping. They will still have the $4 rate and will be sent a statement in the mail.

On Thursdays and Fridays, only under severe backups and weather permitting, MDTA will implement two-way operations allowing drivers to travel eastbound and westbound on the westbound span at reduced speeds of 25 to 35 mph. Two-way operations will provide three lanes eastbound and one lane westbound for short periods of time to reduce the backups.

"As we have communicated throughout the summer, drivers should still expect to encounter heavy congestion and delays throughout the project," the MdTA posted.

MDTA police officers also will travel the westbound span for enforcement and to help slow vehicles down during two-way operations. During two-way operations, commercial trucks are not permitted to travel eastbound or westbound on the westbound span due to the narrower lane configuration. As with wind restrictions that prevent trucks from using the Bay Bridge in certain conditions, MDTA will notify truckers when two-way operations are in place.