NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chesapeake Bay Bridge

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, also known simply as the Bay Bridge, is a major bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland, which spans the Chesapeake Bay and connects the state's Eastern and Western Shore regions. Officially, the bridge is named the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge after William Preston Lane, Jr. who, as governor of Maryland, implemented its construction. Download high resolution version (1391x973, 134 KB) This work is copyrighted. ... William Preston Lane, Jr. ... United States Highway 50 is an east-west United States highway. ... U.S. Highway 301 is a spur of U.S. Highway 1. ... The Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay where the Susquehanna River empties into it. ... Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. ... Queen Annes County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland. ... The Maryland Transportation Authority is the division of the Maryland Department of Transportation that operates the several toll roads, bridges, and tunnels in the State of Maryland. ... The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ... A suspension bridge is a type of bridge that has been created since ancient times as early as 100 AD. Simple suspension bridges, for use by pedestrians and livestock, are still constructed, based upon the ancient Inca rope bridge. ... Annual average daily traffic, abbrevated AADT, is a term used primarily in transportation planning and transportation engineering. ... July 30 is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Articles with similar titles include Chesapeake Bay Bridge. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties/Parishes/Boroughs, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area Ranked 42nd - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 kmÂ²) - Width 90 miles (145 km) - Length 249 miles (400 km) - % water 21 - Latitude 37Â°53N to 39Â°43N - Longitude 75Â°4W to 79Â°33... The Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay where the Susquehanna River empties into it. ... The Eastern Shore of Maryland is composed of the states nine counties east of the Chesapeake Bay. ... Western Maryland is the portion of U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. ... William Preston Lane, Jr. ... Robert L. Ehrlich, the 60th and current Governor of Maryland. ...

The bridge is actually two bridges, which are referred to individually as spans and collectively as a single bridge. The first span was built in 1952 and the second was built in 1973 in order to relive traffic congestion from the original span. The bridge is part of U.S. Routes 50 and 301, making it an important traffic artery in Maryland. As part of U.S. Route 50, the bridge connects the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area with Ocean City, Maryland and the ocean resorts in Delaware, while as part of U.S. Route 301, the bridge serves as part of an alternate route for Interstate 95 travelers between northern Delaware and the Washington, D.C. area. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Current U.S. Highway shield Current U.S. Highway shield in California The United States Highway System is an integrated system of roads in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid. ... This U.S. Highway article needs to be cleaned up to conform to both a higher standard of article quality and accepted design standards outlined in the WikiProject U.S. Highways. ... U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1. ... It has been suggested that Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA be merged into this article or section. ... Nickname: Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Worcester County Founded 1875 Incorporated 1880 Government - Mayor Rick Meehan Area - City 94. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area Ranked 49th - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 kmÂ²) - Width 30 miles (48 km) - Length 100 miles (161 km) - % water 21. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (abbreviated I-95) is a well-known, important, and heavily traveled highway in the United States Interstate Highway System. ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack...

Specifications and operations

With lengths of 4.33 and 4.35 miles [1] (6.97 and 7.00 km), the two spans of the bridge form the longest fixed water crossing in Maryland and are among the world's longest and most-scenic over-water structures. The first of the two spans opened in 1952 with two lanes, while a second, built to the north of the first span and opened in 1973, has three. The spans are structurally similar, save for the number of lanes and differences owing to the design standards for the periods in which they were built, with each span having: A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ...

Additionally, the bridge features a curve towards the Western Shore side due to United States Army Corps of Engineers regulations that state that the bridge must intersect the bay's shipping channels at a 90-degree angle.[2] A suspension bridge is a type of bridge that has been created since ancient times as early as 100 AD. Simple suspension bridges, for use by pedestrians and livestock, are still constructed, based upon the ancient Inca rope bridge. ... The USCGC Eagle. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The USACE gold castle insignia, worn by officers of the Corps The United States Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military men and women. ...

Traffic patterns on the bridge's five lanes can be adjusted via its lane control system, which consists of overhead lane control signals on both spans and approaches. Typically, the two lanes on the south span are configured for vehicles traveling east on U.S. 50 East/U.S. 301 North, while the three lanes on the north span are configured for vehicles traveling west on U.S. 50 West/U.S. 301 South; the spans are therefore referred to as the "eastbound span" and "westbound span", respectively. However, this pattern is adjusted during incidents or peak travel times: for instance, on the outset of weekends when there is a high volume of beach-bound traffic, one lane on the westbound span is configured for eastbound traffic.

The western terminus of the bridge is in Sandy Point State Park, located northeast of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, and its eastern terminus is in Stevensville on Kent Island in Queen Anne's County. â€œAnnapolisâ€ redirects here. ... Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. ... Stevensville is a census-designated place located in Queen Annes County, Maryland. ... A map of Kent Island from 1970 Location of Kent Island within Maryland Kent Island is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, and a historic place in Maryland. ... Queen Annes County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland. ...

Operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA), the bridge has a one-way (eastbound) toll, which is (as of May 2007) $2.50 for passenger vehicles using cash, and $1.00 for vehicles using an E-ZPass that is involved in the Bay Bridge commuter program. Non-commuter E-ZPass users pay the same rate as cash at the toll plaza. Books of twelve toll pass tickets can also be purchased for $25.00, which is approximately $2.08 per pass. Each pass can be used for one eastbound trip across the bridge. The Maryland Transportation Authority is the division of the Maryland Department of Transportation that operates the several toll roads, bridges, and tunnels in the State of Maryland. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

As prohibiting bicycles may create difficulties, a private, professional service assists cyclists over the Chesapeake Bay for a fee.

Beginning in 2006, pink markers were placed along the eastbound bridge to mark out the suggested following distance, similar to a system used on the Autobahn. The markers are a part of the MdTA's new "Pace Your Space" campaign to prevent vehicle collisions and traffic congestion due to tailgating on the bridge. [3] For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... It has been suggested that German Autobahns be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Tailgating is the practice of driving on a road too closely behind another vehicle, such as less than the travel distance in two seconds or equivalently, one vehicle-length for every 5 mph of the current speed. ...

Bay Bridge Walk

While there are no pedestrian facilities on the bridge, the Bay Bridge Walk affords an opportunity to cross the bridge on foot. Participants walk west on the eastbound span, which is closed to vehicles for the duration of the event, while the westbound span is configured for two-way vehicular traffic.

The event, held on the first Sunday in May, was held every year from 1975–2001. It was canceled in 2002 in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and again in 2003 due to inclement weather and increased homeland security costs. While it was held in 2004, it was canceled again in 2005 while the MdTA considered decreasing its annual frequency, citing traffic, fiscal, manpower, and security concerns. Nevertheless, the walk was held in 2006 and was to have been held in 2007 before being canceled due to high winds. Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11â€”pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the NBC TV Movie starring Tom Skeritt, see Homeland Security (film). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

History

As early as the 1880s studies explored the possibility of building a bridge across the Chesapeake Bay [4] and the first real proposal to build such a bridge came about in 1907. The 1907 proposal, along with other later proposals called for a crossing between Baltimore and Tolchester Beach. A bridge was almost built in this location in 1927 and was to be privately financed by local businessmen, however, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 brought an end to those plans. Earlier, in 1919 the first regularly scheduled ferry service across the bay began. The Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company ran ferries between Annapolis and Claiborne, a community near St. Michaels. The ferry service was later replaced with two services, one running from Annapolis to Matapeake on Kent Island, and the other connecting Claiborne to Romancoke, also on Kent Island. The ferries were later taken over by the State Roads Commission, and the western terminus of the Annapolis-Matapeake ferry was moved to Sandy Point, shortening the trip. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1812x1184, 1458 KB) Chesapeake Bay Bridge. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1812x1184, 1458 KB) Chesapeake Bay Bridge. ... // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ... Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: The Greatest City in America,[4] Get in on it. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1929 stock market crash devastated economies worldwide The Wall Street Crash refers to the stock market crash that occurred on October 29, 1929, when share prices on the New York Stock Exchange collapsed, leading eventually to the Great Depression. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, ca. ... The Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry Company ran both passenger and automobile ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay from 1919 to 1952. ... Claiborne is an unincorporated community in Talbot County, Maryland. ... St. ... Romancoke is an unincorporated community on Kent Island in Maryland, located at the southern end of Maryland Route 8. ... The Maryland State Highway Administration (abbreviated MDSHA, MSHA, or simply SHA) is the state agency responsible for maintaining Maryland state highways outside of Baltimore City. ...

The first proposal for a bridge in the current location came in 1938 and was approved, however, construction was delayed by World War II. In 1947, with the war over, Maryland Governor William Preston Lane Jr. helped push for construction of the bridge to proceed. The groundbreaking for the bridge was in 1949, it was completed in 1952, and was dedicated to Governor Lane on November 9, 1967. Also in 1967, due to increasing traffic volumes, the Maryland General Assembly authorized 3 possible new crossings, all suggested as possible new crossings during the 1964 Chesapeake Bay crossing study. These included: one near Baltimore, one in Southern Maryland, and an additional span to be added to the existing bridge, the third option was chosen. Construction of the new span began in 1969, and it was completed and dedicated to William Preston Lane Jr. on June 28, 1973. Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... William Preston Lane, Jr. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The Maryland State House in downtown Annapolis. ... The 1964 Chesapeake Bay crossing study was a study conducted by the state of Maryland in 1964 to explore the possibility of building another bridge across the Chesapeake Bay in addition to the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge. ... Southern Maryland counties. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005, a task force met to again explore the possibillity of building a new Chesapeake Bay crossing. (See: 2005 Chesapeake Bay crossing study.) In late 2006, the initial study was found to be inconclusive, and members of the task force requested additional time to continue the study. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2005 Chesapeake Bay crossing study was a study conducted by the state of Maryland in 2005 in order to explore the possibility of building a new crossing of the Chesapeake Bay. ...

Impact

Since its construction, the bridge has made significant impacts on both sides of the bay, among them has been the growth of Eastern Shore communities. When the bridge was first built in 1952, and again when the second bridge was built in 1973, the Eastern Shore was given easier access to Baltimore and Washington, causing areas in southern Queen Anne's County to develop as bedroom communities. This extension of the Baltimore-Washington suburbs has led Queen Anne's County to be listed as part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The bridges have also given easier access to Ocean City from the Western Shore, which has caused Ocean City to grow from a small town to one that is said to become the second largest city in Maryland during the summer. [5] The Eastern Shore of Maryland is composed of the states nine counties east of the Chesapeake Bay. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Motto: The Greatest City in America,[4] Get in on it. ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack... Queen Annes County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland. ... Commuters waiting for the morning train in Maplewood, New Jersey to travel to New York City A commuter town, is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commute to a nearby metropolis to earn their livelihood. ... It has been suggested that Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA be merged into this article or section. ... Nickname: Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Worcester County Founded 1875 Incorporated 1880 Government - Mayor Rick Meehan Area - City 94. ... Western Maryland is the portion of U.S. state of Maryland that consists of Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. ...

In 1948, the impending completion of the bridge gave rise to an extension of U.S. Route 50 to Ocean City. The route was extended along a new highway across Kent Island, as well as parts of Maryland Route 404 and a large portion of U.S. Route 213 cutting both routes back. At the time the bridge was built, US 50 on the Western Shore ran along present-day Maryland Route 450, with the John Hanson Highway being completed soon after. The John Hanson Highway provided a freeway connection from Washington almost all the way to the bridge, bypassing downtown Annapolis. As the Eastern Shore, particularly Ocean City, grew, U.S. 50 continued to be upgraded. These upgrades included the aforementioned 1973 completion of the second Bay Bridge span and the extension of the U.S. 50 freeway eastward to the U.S. 50/301 split in Queenstown. Further down the shore, the road has been upgraded and realigned over the years from its original 2-lane roadway to a 4-lane divided highway, with the last such section being in Vienna, which was upgraded in 1991 [6]. In 2003 another freeway portion of US 50 was completed around Salisbury, and is known as the Salisbury Bypass. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... This U.S. Highway article needs to be cleaned up to conform to both a higher standard of article quality and accepted design standards outlined in the WikiProject U.S. Highways. ... A map of Kent Island from 1970 Location of Kent Island within Maryland Kent Island is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, and a historic place in Maryland. ... Routes junctioned Termini are bolded Highways in Maryland Numbered highways - State highways - Minor state highways Maryland Route 404 is a major highway in the Eastern Shore region of Maryland. ... U.S. Route 213 is a former north-south U.S. highway on Marylands Eastern Shore. ... Routes junctioned Termini are bolded Highways in Maryland Numbered highways - State highways - Minor state highways In Maryland, U.S. Route 50 serves as a major route connecting Washington, DC with Ocean City. ... Maryland State Highway 450 is route that runs from northeast of Annapolis, Maryland to just outside of Washington, DC in Bladensburg, Maryland. ... â€œAnnapolisâ€ redirects here. ... Queenstown is a town located in Queen Annes County, Maryland. ... Divided Highway is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. ... Vienna is a town located in Dorchester County, Maryland. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: The Crossroads of Delmarva Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Wicomico County Founded 1732 Incorporated 1854 Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman Area - City 29. ...

As of 2007, there are plans to extend the freeway portion east of the Bay Bridge, to Maryland Route 404 outside of Wye Mills. In addition there are also plans to replace the aging Harry Kelley Memorial Bridge into Ocean City [7]. Some have also proposed that an additional bridge be built across the Chesapeake Bay, citing that the impacts the current bridge has had have led it to become a major bottleneck. Camila is the best 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Wye Mills is a township in Talbot County, Maryland. ... A bottleneck is literally the neck of a glass or pottery bottle. ...

Notable incidents

2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hurricane Isabel was the ninth named storm, the fifth hurricane, the second major hurricane, and the only Category 5 hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. ... The Kent Narrows is a waterway that connects the Chester River and Eastern Bay and separates Kent Island from the Delmarva Peninsula. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Detour is a 1945 film noir film about a young man who takes the identity of a dead gambler, and plunges into danger. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area Ranked 49th - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 kmÂ²) - Width 30 miles (48 km) - Length 100 miles (161 km) - % water 21. ... U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (abbreviated I-95) is a well-known, important, and heavily traveled highway in the United States Interstate Highway System. ...

Contents

Specifications and operations

Bay Bridge Walk

History

Impact

Notable incidents

See also

External links

Contents

Specifications and operations GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Bay Bridge Walk

History

Impact

Notable incidents

See also

External links

Specifications and operations