MD Bay Bridge: Best, Worst Times To Cross Memorial Day Weekend

ANNAPOLIS, MD — If you want to soak up the sun and surf on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and not spend hours sitting in traffic, now is the time to get on the road. First, the weather forecast calls for warm temps and sunny skies Wednesday through Friday — and not so much the rest of the weekend. Second, state highway officials say as usual there will be delays if you wait until Thursday or Friday mornings.

The Maryland Transportation Authority says nearly 1.9 million drivers are expected to travel MDTA roadways this holiday, so plan ahead, travel off-peak and put safety first. This total represents a 4.7 percent increase in traffic counts compared to last year.

The MDTA says that for this holiday weekend and throughout the summer months you should call 511 to get real-time traffic details east of the Bay Bridge and, when leaving the shore, points west to the bridge to avoid the worst of the Memorial Day weekend traffic.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

You should travel off-peak when heading to and from the Eastern Shore to avoid major traffic delays. The best times to travel the Bay Bridge this weekend are:

• Thursday/Friday – before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
• Saturday – before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
• Sunday/Monday – before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.

SEE ALSO:

• Maryland Patch Photo Contest: Submit Your Best Pics
• EZ Pass Maryland Transponders Are Now Free: Gov. Hogan
• Best Summer Travel Destinations Include Maryland
• Here Is The Most Beautiful Place In Maryland, Conde Nast Says

AAA Mid-Atlantic projects. Nearly 890,000 Marylanders will get away between May 24 and 28, a 4.7 percent increase over last year, and the highest number of Memorial Day weekend travelers since 2001.

Here's how to check on traffic and delays:

• For the most up-to-date information call 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) or get real-time updates on Twitter at TheMDTA. Find the agency on Facebook at facebook.com/TheMDTA. For statewide traffic conditions, visit md511.org.
• To sign up for email/text alerts or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov.
• Or visit baybridge.com to view traffic cameras and see live traffic camera images on MDTA roadways at mdta.maryland.gov.

MDTA Police will target aggressive and impaired drivers, seatbelt violators and criminal activity. Officers will step up seatbelt enforcement during the Click It or Ticket Campaign through June 3. Additional police patrols will be on the lookout for impaired drivers at Maryland toll facilities throughout the holiday weekend.

The MDTA Police and Vehicle Recovery Units will have additional patrols on duty to respond quickly to incidents and disabled vehicles Memorial Day weekend. In addition, the MDTA will lift construction-related temporary lane closures at its facilities from 5 a.m. Friday, May 25, to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 29.

Image courtesy of the state of Maryland