Severn River Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Severn River Bridge |
|
|---|---|
| Carries | Seven lanes of    US 50 / US 301 / MD 2 |
| Crosses | Severn River |
| Locale | Annapolis, Maryland |
| Official name | Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Severn River Bridge |
| Maintained by | Maryland State Highway Administration |
| Characteristics | |
| Clearance above | 80 Feet Vertical, 134 Feet Horizontal |
| History | |
| Opened | 1953 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 115,000 |
The Severn River Bridge, also called the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, is an important bridge in Annapolis, Maryland. It crosses the Severn River and helps connect different parts of the state. This bridge is a key part of a major highway, carrying U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 301. Another road, Maryland Route 2, also uses the bridge, but you won't see signs for it there.
The bridge is super important because it links Annapolis with places to the east, including the Eastern Shore. To get to the Eastern Shore, you cross this bridge and then the big Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Even though it's so important, the Severn River Bridge doesn't have wide shoulders, which can sometimes cause traffic jams and accidents.
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How the Severn River Bridge Was Built
The very first road bridge over the Severn River was a special type called a drawbridge. It was built in the late 1920s. Before that, there were even older bridges made of wood, going back to 1886. Over time, many bridges, including railroad bridges, have been built across the Severn River and its smaller waterways.
Why a New Bridge Was Needed
The original drawbridge was part of Maryland Route 2 and later U.S. Route 50. This old bridge was eventually replaced by the Naval Academy Bridge in 1994. When a new, bigger highway called the John Hanson Highway was planned, the current Severn River Bridge was built to carry it across the river.
Expanding the Bridge for More Traffic
When it first opened, the Severn River Bridge had only four lanes for cars. As more and more people used the highway, the bridge needed to grow. It was later expanded to six lanes. However, this expansion meant the bridge didn't have wide shoulders, which are safety areas on the side of the road. This design can lead to more traffic problems and accidents.
Renaming the Bridge: A Special Honor
In December 2006, the Severn River Bridge was given a new official name: the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. This renaming was done to honor the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a very important event in history.
Recent Upgrades to the Bridge
From the fall of 2017 to the spring of 2018, the bridge got a big upgrade. It was expanded to have seven lanes. Now, four lanes go eastbound (towards the Eastern Shore), and three lanes go westbound (towards Annapolis). To fit more lanes, each lane was made a little narrower, going from 12 feet wide to 11 feet wide. The shoulders were also made smaller, from three feet to just one foot.
This renovation took about eight months to finish. The improved layout was ready just in time for Memorial Day in 2018. These changes have helped to make traffic flow better, especially during busy times when many people are heading east.
