Kent Narrows facts for kids

The Kent Narrows is a cool waterway in Maryland. People sometimes call it Kent Island Narrows or simply the Narrows. It acts like a watery highway, connecting the Chester River to the Eastern Bay. It also separates Kent Island from the larger Delmarva Peninsula. This waterway runs right through the town of Kent Narrows, Maryland.

Long ago, the Kent Narrows was a shallow area surrounded by marsh (wet, grassy land). In 1826, a raised road called a causeway was built across it. But this causeway was removed in 1876. That's when the channel was dredged, which means digging out the bottom to make it deeper. Today, the Kent Narrows is still regularly dredged to keep it deep enough for boats. For a long time, this area has been famous for its seafood businesses and yummy restaurants.

Bridges Crossing the Narrows

Many bridges have crossed the Kent Narrows over the years, including ones for roads and even a railroad. Right now, two main road bridges help people and cars get across this important waterway.

R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Bridge

The R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Bridge is a big, modern bridge. It used to be called the Kent Narrows Bridge. This bridge is part of two major highways, US 50 and US 301. It was built in the early 1990s to make travel better on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This bridge helps thousands of cars cross the Narrows every day.

Waterman's Memorial Bridge

The Waterman's Memorial Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a drawbridge. This means part of it can lift up to let tall boats pass underneath! It used to be called the Old Kent Narrows Bridge. Today, it's part of Maryland Route 18 and also a long walking and biking path called the American Discovery Trail. This bridge is mostly for local traffic, including cars and people walking or biking. It was once the main bridge for US 50 before the newer R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Bridge was built.

Images for kids

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  Aerial view of the Kent Narrows, showing the water and surrounding land.

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  The Kent Narrows as seen from the shore of Kent Island.

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  A view of both bridges: the R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Bridge is in the back, and the Waterman's Memorial Bridge is in the front.