Bay Bridge Traffic Troubles Anger MD Comptroller Franchot

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot expressed extreme discontent with the traffic issues that continue to crop on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge during the ongoing re-decking project. He took to Facebook Oct. 7 and demanded that state transportation officials temporarily suspend the project until spring.

"The whole point of government is to ensure the safety, security and well-being of the people we serve. Which is precisely what is not occurring now on, near and around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. As we now know, the closure of the right lane of the westbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for deck rehabilitation has been poorly planned and executed from the start. As a result, travelers on both sides of the Bay Bridge have been subjected to severe, if not unprecedented traffic backups — as long as 14 miles eastbound, and back to the U.S. 50/301 split westbound," Franchot posted on Facebook.

"The makeshift efforts by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to alleviate these conditions haven't worked. Commuters can't get to work on time, kids are missing school and, just last Friday, transit riders bound for the Eastern Shore were literally been stranded in Annapolis. We've seen enough, and we've had enough," he added.

Franchot's disgust with the project comes a few weeks after five lanes were reduced to three on the Bay Bridge as part of the $27 million restoration project by Maryland Transportation Authority. The project will replace decking and seal the bridge deck. Steel rail posts on the side of the bridge also will be replaced. The work on the 4.3-mile bridge is expected to continue until 2021.

State officials have attempted to curb the traffic issues by temporarily waiving all tolls and offering cashless tolling on designated days. Despite these efforts, drivers continue to have trouble navigating the bridge.

Jim Ports, executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, released a statement Monday night, Oct. 7, stating that Franchot’s suggestion would put the work in the middle of peak spring and summer traffic, which isn't feasible.

“The safety of Marylanders is our top priority, which is exactly why we are taking action on this urgent safety project,” Ports stated. "Unlike most highway or bridge projects, there are no other easy options or detours around the Bay Bridge, which is why we continue to work closely with local school systems and school bus contractors, employers in Annapolis and on the Eastern Shore, and public safety officials from Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s Counties."

Franchot also shared some ideas on Facebook as to how else traffic concerns can be alleviated. He calls his new strategy "Beat the Bay Bridge Blues." A voluntary program, he suggested that people engage in flexible scheduling and work staggered start times or work four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour workdays. He also suggested workers investigate working remotely and carpooling.

See More:

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