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Sunday, October 20, 2019

Hogan orders Bay Bridge toll booths removed as construction traffic crisis continues

Maryland’s governor ordered the Chesapeake Bay Bridge toll booths to be removed as soon as possible Wednesday in an effort to improve traffic during a major construction project.

But Larry Hogan added that there is no pain-free solution to the deteriorating bridge’s problems.

Under Hogan’s plan drivers would pay the Bay Bridge toll by EZ Pass. If they don’t have an EZ Pass they could pay later after receiving a bill in the mail.

“I’m just going to be completely honest with everyone and tell you that there is no real positive solution to make these problems and the traffic backups magically disappear,” Hogan said during a meeting of Maryland’s Board of Public Works in Annapolis.

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK folks , just think about it , if they don't need toll booths to solve this problem then why have them in the first place?

Anonymous said...

7:12 They still have to pay to cross the bridge. The state probably doesn't want to have to send all those bills for people without ezpass and trying to collect from people after the bill is sent.

Anonymous said...

Don't be fooled people he'll just take it away from another source like the lotteries educational fund or the retirees fund, LMFAO!! Maryland has been hijacked by a bunch of pirates

Anonymous said...

I don't think the toll is the issue. The issue is you have an ez pass lane. And then another lane. Every single lane is trying to get to one lane. It is a nightmare. At certain times before construction, it is always backed up. What about the span without the toll. It is backed up for miles and miles. I don't think there is an easy solution at this point, and the bridge has to be fixed. The tool was supposed to be suppended for life when the bridge was paid for. If they had saved the money everyone has continued to pay they could have built another bridge. But I am sure that money went to better use. Ha.

Anonymous said...

The tolls are needed monetarily. The point would to keep traffic flowing without need for complete stop. Will be back up no matter but they're simply looking at opportunities to improve on current scenario.

Anonymous said...

When this project is all said and done the MTA should eliminate the trucks must use right lane restriction. Doing so is will more evenly distribute the wear to the bridge deck. They also should have the contractor mill the deck surface to make it smoother reducing the wear from heavy vehicles like was done on the suspension and through truss spans.

SBJ

Anonymous said...

Oh OK
Just so we are all paying a second time for road repairs. That is after paying the highway gasoline taxes.

Anonymous said...

7:52 great idea, how about we send the trucks over the other bridge going the wrong way! idiot!

Anonymous said...

lets just shut it down until its all done

or even better shut it down for good

go up and around if you want to come over

Anonymous said...

Yes there is, Build a new bridge in Cambridge to the southern part of MD, to Charles county, that will take a lot of traffic off of the main bay bridge for everyone south of the bay bridge has to take it to get to us or we nave to take it to get to them, or go an extra 2 hours through Virginia... The place in Cambridge is the shorted crossing for the bay...

Anonymous said...

The best fix. They should've announced Back in the spring, that the bay bridge on the west bound side would be completely closed for 4 weeks, or time needed, 24/7 to do all the repairs. Only the east bound span open. Make plans accordingly. Emergency vehicles would be accomadated.
Then got it all done at once instead of dragging it out for 6 months and really causing all this trouble and loss in commerce as people don't take trips.
A friend of mine went to a festival in Cecil county last weekend. They said traffic was crazy and had never been that way in the past. Maybe many are going around the bridge.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the clowns at MTA will make this as painful as possible for the public.

Anonymous said...

Just travel off peak hours if you can. I've been doing this for years.

Ruh Roh said...

They have cameras set up to record your vehicle, license plate, driver recognition..

you dont pay when bill comes in....you will not be able to renew your tags or driver's license

for those unaware....the cameras record your speed as well.... expect a ticket for that too

Anonymous said...

And it took 2 months of insanity before your governor decided to do something that makes logical sense. He may have an R after his name but a Republican he’s not.

JoeAlbero said...

Spoke to a friend last night who lives in Virginia. He visits OC every week rebuilding and remodeling a home here. He said the last two weekend he drove back to Virginia, instead of it taking three hours it now takes him seven and a half hours to get home. There's a normal 14 mile stand still backup at the Bay Bridge. That's ridiculous. He's hoping to have a quicker trip home this weekend but only time will tell.