Chesapeake Bay Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chesapeake Bay Bridge |
|
|---|---|
Both spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as seen from Sandy Point State Park
|
|
| Coordinates | 38°59′30″N 76°22′20″W / 38.99167°N 76.37222°W |
| Carries | 5 lanes of   US 50 / US 301 |
| Crosses | Chesapeake Bay |
| Locale | Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's Counties, Maryland |
| Official name | Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge |
| Other name(s) | "Bay Bridge" |
| Maintained by | Maryland Transportation Authority, State of Maryland |
| ID number | AAZ050 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridge (eastbound), Continuous truss bridge (westbound), and Suspension bridges (both spans) |
| Material | steel, concrete |
| Total length | 4.35 mi (7.00 km) (eastbound) 4.33 mi (6.97 km) (westbound) |
| Width | 28 ft (8.5 m) (eastbound) 38 ft (11.6 m) (westbound) |
| Height | 354 ft (107.9 m) (eastbound) 379 ft (115.5 m) (westbound) |
| Longest span | 1,600 ft (488 m) |
| Clearance below | 186 ft (56.7 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | July 30, 1952 (eastbound) June 28, 1973 (westbound) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 61,000 |
| Toll | $4.00 (eastbound only) |
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, often called the "Bay Bridge", is a huge two-part bridge in Maryland, USA. It stretches across the Chesapeake Bay, connecting the state's quiet Eastern Shore with the busy Western Shore.
The first part of the bridge opened in 1952. It was about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long. At the time, it was the longest continuous steel structure over water in the world! A second, parallel part was added in 1973. The bridge is officially named the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge. It's named after William Preston Lane Jr., who was the 52nd Governor of Maryland. He helped start the bridge's construction in the late 1940s after many years of debate.
The bridge is a key part of U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 301. It links the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area to popular beach towns like Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach. It also offers an alternate route for travelers on Interstate 95. Because so many people use it, the bridge can get very busy, especially during summer and rush hour.
Before the bridge was built, people used ferries to cross the bay. Since 1975, there has been an annual 10K run across the bridge. The bridge has greatly helped the areas it connects to grow, especially Queen Anne's County and Ocean City. There have been talks about building a third part of the bridge since 2004.
Contents
History of the Bay Bridge
Early Ideas and Ferries
People might have thought about building a bridge across the Chesapeake Bay as early as the 1880s. The first clear idea for a bridge came in 1907. It suggested a crossing between Baltimore and Tolchester Beach. In 1927, local business people were allowed to raise money for this crossing. Plans were made, but the project stopped after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. This led to a big economic crisis called the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Before the 1952 bridge, ferries were the main way to cross the bay. The first ferry service went from Annapolis to Broad Creek on Kent Island, which is close to where the bridge is now. In 1919, the Claiborne–Annapolis Ferry Company started running ferries between Annapolis and Claiborne.
In 1930, the ferry company added a new, shorter route from Annapolis to Matapeake. In 1941, the state took over the ferries. Two years later, the ferry's western stop moved to Sandy Point. This made the trip across the bay even shorter.
Building the First Bridge (1952)
In 1938, the Maryland General Assembly first suggested building a bridge at the Sandy Point–Kent Island spot. But the start of World War II delayed the construction. After the war, in 1947, Governor William Preston Lane Jr. helped pass a law to begin building the bridge.
Construction started in January 1949. After three and a half years, the bridge opened on July 30, 1952. It was the longest continuous steel structure over water and the third longest bridge in the world at that time. Before it opened, a parade of cars made the first official crossing. Governor Theodore McKeldin led the parade. On November 9, 1967, the bridge was named the "William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge" to honor Governor Lane, who had passed away that year.
Adding the Second Bridge (1973)
By 1967, traffic on the bridge was growing fast. The Maryland General Assembly looked at ideas for new crossings. They decided to add another part to the existing bridge from Kent Island to Sandy Point. Building the new parallel bridge began in 1969. It opened on June 28, 1973.
Important Events
Many people find the Bay Bridge a bit scary. This is because it's very high, the lanes are narrow (no emergency shoulders), and strong winds often blow there. The bridge has been fully closed four times due to extreme weather.
- September 18, 2003: Closed during Hurricane Isabel due to high winds.
- August 27, 2011: Closed during Hurricane Irene when winds went over 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).
- October 29, 2012: Closed because of Hurricane Sandy.
- March 6, 2013: Closed again due to high winds during a big winter storm.
On August 10, 2008, a large truck fell from the bridge after a crash. The driver died. This made some people worry about the bridge's safety. However, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) said there were no major structural problems. They did find some rust in the barriers and quickly fixed them.
How the Bridge Works
The two parts of the bridge are the longest fixed water crossing in Maryland. They are about 4.33 and 4.35 miles (6.97 and 7.00 km) long from shore to shore. The western end is at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis. The eastern end is in Stevensville on Kent Island. The older bridge is 354 feet (108 m) high, and the newer one is 379 feet (116 m) high.
Bridge Design
Both parts of the bridge were designed by the same company, J. E. Greiner Company. They are similar in structure, but the older bridge has two lanes, and the newer one has three. Each part has:
- Two main sections over the bay's shipping channels:
- A suspension section over the western channel. It's 3,200-foot (975 m) long and has 186 feet (56.7 m) of space underneath. This allows large ships to pass.
- A cantilever section over the eastern channel.
- Other sections made of steel and concrete closer to the shores.
- A curve near the western end. This curve makes sure the main sections cross the shipping channels at a 90-degree angle, as required by rules.
Controlling Traffic
The bridge has five lanes in total. Traffic can be changed using overhead signals. Usually, the two lanes on the south bridge go east, and the three lanes on the north bridge go west. So, they are called the "eastbound span" and "westbound span."
However, during busy times or incidents, this changes. For example, on weekends when many people go to the beach, one lane on the westbound bridge might be used for eastbound traffic. This is called a reversible lane or "two-way traffic."
In 2006, pink markers were added to the eastbound bridge. These markers help drivers keep a safe distance from the car in front of them. This helps prevent crashes and traffic jams.
In 2013, safety changes were made for two-way traffic on the westbound bridge. Signs, road markings, and rumble strips were updated. A buffer zone was added between lanes. This means drivers can no longer switch lanes in that area.
In January 2020, the tollbooths on the eastbound side were removed. Now, tolls are collected electronically. This means you don't stop to pay. The MDTA is also adding new lane signals and an automatic gate system. These will help change lanes for two-way traffic more quickly and easily.
When two-way traffic is set up, the MDTA sometimes stops traffic briefly to move cones and barrels. Police then guide cars across the bridge in the reversible lane. Two-way traffic is not allowed in bad weather like heavy rain or strong winds. If winds are too strong (over 55 mph), all traffic on the bridge might be stopped. When two-way traffic is in effect, the speed limit for that lane is lower (40 mph) than the other lanes (50 mph).
Tolls and Fees
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) operates the bridge. There is a toll only when you go eastbound. It costs $4.00 for regular cars. If you have a Maryland E-ZPass, it costs $2.50. Before May 2020, tolls were collected by people in booths. Now, it's all electronic. You can pay with E-ZPass or Video Tolling, which uses your license plate.
If drivers are very nervous about crossing the bridge, private companies now offer to drive their cars across for them.
Bay Bridge Walk and Run
.jpg)
The bridge doesn't have sidewalks for walking. However, the "Bay Bridge Walk" and "Governor's Bay Bridge Run" used to let people cross on foot. These events usually happened on the first Sunday in May. The eastbound bridge was closed to cars, and two-way traffic used the westbound bridge. People would start on Kent Island and walk or run west towards the toll plaza. Buses helped transport participants to and from parking areas.
The run was a 10K race held early in the morning before the walk. It was organized by a local running group. Money raised went to the Chesapeake Bay Trust to help protect the bay.
The first walk was in 1975. A Boy Scout leader asked Governor Marvin Mandel if his troop could walk across the bridge. The annual walk was sometimes canceled due to bad weather or security concerns. It was also canceled many times in the 2000s due to construction or money problems.
After many cancellations, the MDTA and Queen Anne's County hired a company to organize a professional 10K race. This race is called the "Across the Bay 10K." The first race was held on November 9, 2014. It raises money for things like bay research and breast cancer research. In 2019, the race was held virtually because of bridge maintenance.
Impact of the Bridge
The bridge has had a huge impact on both sides of the bay. One big change is the growth of communities on the Eastern Shore. When the bridge opened in 1952, and again in 1973, it made it easier to get to Baltimore and Washington. This caused areas in southern Queen Anne's County to become "bedroom communities" where people live and commute to work. Because of this, Queen Anne's County is now part of the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area.
The bridge also made it much easier to reach Ocean City from the Western Shore. Ocean City grew from a small town into a very popular tourist spot. During the summer, it's said to become the second largest city in Maryland!
In 1948, because the bridge was almost finished, U.S. Route 50 was extended to Ocean City. Later, U.S. Route 50 on the Western Shore was changed to use the new "John Hanson Highway." This highway was built to give better access to the bridge. As the Eastern Shore grew, U.S. Route 50 was improved even more. This included the second bridge span in 1973 and making U.S. Route 50 a freeway in some parts.
Future Plans
In 2004, a study predicted that traffic on the bridge would increase by 40% by 2025. The next year, Governor Bob Ehrlich created a group to look into building another Chesapeake Bay crossing. This group decided that a bridge would be the best option. They looked at four possible locations for a new bridge:
- The current location (Anne Arundel County to Queen Anne's County)
- Baltimore County to Kent County
- Anne Arundel or Calvert County to Talbot County
- Calvert County to Dorchester County
In 2006, the group released a report but didn't make a final decision. They asked for more time to study the idea.
In 2020, after a $5 million study, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced that 11 out of 14 possible sites for a third bridge had been rejected. The study found that any new crossing would have big environmental and economic effects. The report said a new bridge would "cost multiple billions of dollars."
1
2
3
4
5
|
||||||||||||
Proposed additional spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
|
||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Puente de la Bahía de Chesapeake para niños
