WASHINGTON - It's almost the time of the year when thousands of Washingtonians start crossing the Chesapeake Bay bridge every weekend to spend some time on Maryland's Eastern shore, but two Maryland lawmakers say they're concerned about the bridge's safety.
Speaking on WTOP's Politics Program with Mark Plotkin, both Maryland House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell and Democratic Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk expressed concerns about the bridge's safety.
"It is unsafe, and we know that already," says Pena-Melnyk.
The Maryland Transportation Authority, which runs the bridge, has made some safety upgrades following deadly crashes, but O'Donnell says it's also about the traffic.
"The capacity of that bridge is failing," says O'Donnell.
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There is nothing wrong with the current 2 bridges they serve the function they were designed for.... the real problem is speeding on the spans and the crazy idea that there should be 2 way traffic on a single span.... make 1 span 1 way only if i remember correctly the tractor trailer driver died because of an impaired driver falling asleep and driving head on into his truck .....
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is nothing wrong with the current bridges, except I'd like to see another bridge added, possibly in the area of St. Leonard/Solomons Island. It'd be a near straight shot to Dorchester County/Cambridge area, relieve a ton of congestion on the bay bridge, and considerably shorten a trip to/from the Washington DC area. I eventually think it'll happen, maybe not in the near term but definitely within the next 20 years or so.
ReplyDeleteHow can this be? Those tolls, when put in place were to be used for repair and maintenance. Where are all those millions and is THIS report a prelude to another politician looking to raise the toll? After all, a politician LOVES it when he's got you in a "must have" situation. What choice do we have...see if THAT doesn't happen soon (the push to raise the toll)....
ReplyDeleteThey say that the cost to paint the bridge (sandblast and paint) is now more that what the original cost to build the bridge was. Raise the tolls. Make it a user fee. I know it will cost the tourists more to get to the beach, but if they want to get to OC, what is $5 instead of $2.50?
ReplyDeleteglad to hear it.... I'm headed over the bridge tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, the bridge itself is not to blame for any incidents, only the drivers and the vehicles on it. Human error or mechanical malfunctions are what causes the accidents. Make it so you can't change lanes and use speed restriction measuresbe it rolling roadblocks or just make it like a car wash with a conveyor to transport vehicles safely and slowly over.
ReplyDeletelike a car wash with a conveyor to transport vehicles safely and slowly over.
ReplyDeletelmao
Latest traffic advisory. Due to the new car wash style conveyors, there is a traffic backup of 25 miles. Expected travel times to Ocean City is 14 hours. Yea thats a great idea.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, the MTA has already decided that the rates will be going up twice in the next 18 months.
11:07
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with that area or the names of the towns, but if you mean a bridge from like Cambridge going west to the shore, that would be AWESOME. It looks like the distance from side to side would be a lot less than the current bay bridge.
Speed cameras ought to do the trick
ReplyDeleteThis is just a scare tactic to try and grease the slides for a new gasoline tax to fund transportation because the transportation fund has been robbed to pay for something else
ReplyDeleteI worry about Maryland Officials. It makes more sense to replace them than the bridge.
ReplyDeleteIf O'Malley hadn't robbed the transportation fund, there would be plenty of money laying around.
ReplyDeleteIt's a scare tactic used by the democrats in order to solicit support for raising taxes.
ReplyDeleteI remember when the second bridge was built hearing that it paid for itself (with $1.00 at the time) within 5 years. It's a huge revenue source so it stands to reason that the thug we have in office will exploit that since spending CUTS don't seem to be what he's interested in.
9:57 have you ever seen a map? No way the distance is shorter anywhere except where the bridge is now
ReplyDelete