Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge |
|
|---|---|
_connecting_Harford_and_Cecil_Counties,_Maryland_from_the_east_bank_of_the_Susquehanna_River.jpg)
View of the north side of the bridge from the east bank
|
|
| Coordinates | 39°34′52″N 76°06′14″W / 39.58111°N 76.10389°W |
| Carries | 6 lanes of  I-95 |
| Crosses | Susquehanna River |
| Locale | Havre de Grace, Maryland and Perryville, Maryland |
| Official name | The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | Maryland Transportation Authority |
| ID number | 300000H-X907010 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Steel Truss – Deck |
| Total length | 1,542.6 metres (5,061 ft) |
| Width | 25 metres (82 ft) |
| Clearance below | 27.4 metres (90 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1963 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 74275 (in 2001) |
| Toll | $8.00 (northbound) (Maryland E-ZPass $6.00) |
The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge is a large bridge in Maryland. It carries Interstate 95 (I-95) over the Susquehanna River. This bridge connects Cecil County and Harford County. It is a toll bridge, meaning you have to pay to cross it. The bridge is located upstream from the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 40.
About the Tydings Bridge
The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge was built between January 1962 and November 1963. It was constructed high above the river valley. Because of its location, there are signs warning drivers about strong crosswinds.
The bridge and the highway it carries were officially opened by U.S. President John F. Kennedy on November 14, 1963. The highway was later renamed the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.
Who Was Millard Tydings?
The bridge is named after Millard Tydings (1890–1961). He was an important political figure from Maryland. Tydings served as a U.S. Senator from 1927 to 1951. A U.S. Senator is a person elected to represent their state in the United States Congress.
Paying the Toll
The Tydings Bridge is one of eight toll facilities managed by the Maryland Transportation Authority. A toll is a fee you pay to use a road or bridge. On this bridge, the toll is only collected from vehicles traveling northbound.
As of July 1, 2013, the toll for a regular car (two axles) was $8.00. Larger vehicles pay more depending on how many axles they have.
In March 2020, the bridge switched to all-electronic tolling. This means there are no longer people collecting tolls. Instead, tolls are paid using E-ZPass or Video Tolling. Video Tolling uses cameras to read your license plate. This change became permanent in August 2020.
Bridge Closures
The Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge has been closed at least once. It was shut down during Hurricane Sandy on October 30, 2012. This might have been the first time the bridge was ever closed.
