OCEAN CITY – Federal transportation authorities last week gave preliminary approval for a third bridge over the Chesapeake Bay in a corridor adjacent to the existing spans.
For the last few years, the Maryland Transportation Authority has been exploring options for another Chesapeake Bay crossing. Options explored have included a new bay bridge in the area adjacent to the existing spans along Route 50 between Anne Arundel County and Queen Anne’s County, the preferred option of the Maryland Transit Authority and Governor Larry Hogan.
Other options have included a new crossing in southern Maryland connecting that area of the state to the lower Eastern Shore, or a crossing well to the north of the existing bridges. Last week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision naming the alternative that follows the existing Route 50 corridor, or Corridor 7, as the favored option under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
It’s important to note the results of the NEPA study preferring the existing Corridor 7 as best alternative for the location of the new span was just the next step in what will be a two-tiered study process. The first phase was a broad review that explored the potential impacts of the many alternatives on the environment and on the communities on either side of the bay a new bay bridge route could potentially traverse.
The second phase of the two-tiered study will take a deeper dive into project impacts, potential costs and funding opportunities for the estimated $9 billion project. Five years ago, state lawmakers approved funding for the first phase of the study, but no funding is currently in place for the second phase. For now, however, the existing corridor between Anne Arundel and Queen Anne’s counties is the preferred option for state and federal officials. In a release issued this week, the FHWA outlined the process by which the agency reached its FEIS and Record of Decision.
Better Endorse a BYPASS around EASTON , Cambridge, SALISBURY too while at it !!! Like Dover Del did !!!!!!
The toll road would Pay for itself !!! DUGH Should have been done 30 years ago !! DUGH
How about stop waisting all our time and money on all the illegals running across our border and just start spending it on all our own LEGAL citizens
Government screwing up everything they touch as usually
Just get a Few Trillion from dirty Biden $$$$ !!!! He will sign off on Anything !!!!
Balimorons can visit…. but keep your racist welfare azz on that side of the. bridge ….
Should be a Bridge Tunnel (Low to the Water like the one in VA ) NOT up in the AIR !!!
Tankers and supply ships to Baltimore would go where?
Sail OVER the Tunnels dummy , just like in Virginia !!!
barely can float a boat now let alone trying to get over a tunnel
Should LOCATED at Cambridge , MD NOT where the Old Two are !!!! Alot of Reasons
We have enough liberal / socialist on the SHORE that is ruining our way of life. They should stay where they are. Where are they going that they don’t disrupt the SHORE. They are the reason for these reckless accidents etc. We don’t need any more excess traffic. They should be limited, If they do not have a permanent address that they live here for over 6 months of the year then they will be restricted for entry on the SHORE unless they are conducting business for a legit business.
Well then charge them $100.00 both ways, coming and going, for non-permanent citizens of the SHORE Only exception would be for delivery of supplies to the SHORE
Small problem with that thought…….OCMD is the only beach resort for DC MD and PA. Non citizens of delmarva drive the revenue supply so OCs 10 miles exist. Not going to change anytime soon. A newer bridge needs to cross further south so the revenue continues for 50-75 years. Long term. So what if it opens the cambridge watershed area? Many NIMBYS in the next 20 yrs will be dead anyway. Prob in 50-75 years west OC will be the beach. Most will be dead. They built the beltways around DC and Baltimore to move people. MD Gov built the the bridges for kent narrows, Cambridge, Vienna and the bypass around Salisbury….why? Move people to get to OCMD, the 2nd largest City in MD during the summer.
Its ALL about the future benjamins.
OCMD is becoming a nightmare – no longer family friendly!
Unless they get rid of the stoplight at 213 and 50, put a real interchange @ the 404 intersection, and increase the speed limit to 65 – after they put bypasses around Easton and Cambridge they will have moved the traffic problem from the bridge to well on the Eastern Shore. There is a bypass around Salisbury – but it doesn’t bypass much – they really need to move the bypass x 13 intersection about five miles north – up around Connolly Mill…
I say put the bridge somewhere on the western shore across from Crisfield and have it enter the eastern shore at Crisfield. That would alleviate some of the traffic on the mid and upper shore. Frankly, I wish the other two bridges weren’t there.