MDTA Plans To Speed Up Bay Bridge Overhaul, Curb Traffic Jams

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A plan to speed up the overhaul of the Bay Bridge and reduce the traffic jams drivers face crossing the span has been announced by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Work crews will be on the job, including Thanksgiving week, to shorten the duration of the project and lessen the traffic impact on commuters, visitors and local residents. The announcement came after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told officials to get the work done faster.

“My most important responsibility is the safety of Maryland citizens,” Hogan said at the Oct. 16 public works board meeting. “Not taking action is not an option. But I am demanding that every effort must be taken to complete this project as soon as possible. And I am demanding that all the experts look at every possible solution that is feasible.”

MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports said the steps the department has mapped out should speed up the project while watching out for Marylanders' safety. Those include:

• Construction work carried out day and night, seven days a week, using numerous crews.
• Repairs will be done simultaneously in multiple work zones in different areas of the lane.
• Crews will install jersey barrier and cones along the full length of the lane so that all four work zones can be up and running as soon as possible.
• Cashless tolling on Thursdays and Fridays will start at noon but end at 8 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. This will allow crews to implement two-way operations on the eastbound span earlier—traffic volumes permitting—and close the westbound span for overnight hydro-milling and concrete placement.
• Crews also will work during Thanksgiving week and not stop for the holidays. However, officials caution that drivers should still expect major delays in both directions during the holidays with Wednesday through Friday being the heaviest eastbound travel days and Thursday through Sunday being the heaviest westbound travel days.
• Two-way traffic operations will be reserved for emergency situations and severe backups only.
• The MDTA and its contractor also are exploring alternate milling methods and overlay materials that may speed up the project even more.

Related:

Bay Bridge Traffic Jams Could Be Curbed With 24-Hour Work: Hogan
Only 1 Option For New Bay Bridge Crossing Gov. Hogan Will OK
Bay Bridge Traffic Jams Prompt MDTA Toll Changes
New Chesapeake Bay Bridge Options Provoke Debate

“In light of current Bay Bridge travel patterns, we are working with our tourism partners on the Eastern Shore to encourage travelers to ‘Go Early, Stay Late,’” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “The Maryland Office of Tourism’s ‘Home for the Holidays’ initiative includes hotel packages and discounts in the Eastern Shore region, and promotion of events as a way to continue to draw visitors, while providing incentives for traveling during off-peak times.”

Workers plan to demolish specific toll booths to create wider lanes within the plaza and will install overhead tolling gantries to implement cashless tolling full-time next year. Eventually the entire toll plaza will be removed in order to reconstruct the roadway and fill in the toll collector access tunnel. The MDTA is working with Queen Anne's and Anne Arundel County leaders to negotiate a solution and find a balanced approach to westbound and eastbound traffic approaching the bridge.