New, wider Nice Bridge should be top priority
AP/1992
There comes a pointed reminder from the Southern Maryland Newspapers that Maryland has huges transportation needs outside the Baltimore and Washington areas.
The Harry W. Nice Bridge is perhaps the most out-of-the-way major bridge in Maryland. Many Baltimore and Washington residents can live their entire lives without crossing it. But if you live in Southern Maryland, it is a critical lifeline to the South -- crossing the Potomac from the southern end of Charles County to the Northern Neck of Virginia on U.S. 301.
It's a 70-year-old, two lane structure, and the last time I crossed it, the old span was showing its 70 years. The Maryland Transportation Authority, which owns and operates the bridge, is now studying various plans for a new, wider bridge. Cost estimates range up to $1 billion.
There are all kinds of projects clamoring for the authority's toll dollars and bond-issuing power, but this one richly deserves to be at the front of the line. Since this is infrastructure our great-grandchildren will likely be using, it doesn't make sense to skimp when choosing alternatives.
By the way, even as narrow and old as it is, the Nice Bridge is a good route for Baltimore motorists seeking to avoid the truly horrendous holiday weekend traffic jams on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia. A four-lane bridge would help uncork the existing bottleneck.
Categories: Maryland toll facilities
Comments
Let's have the new one be lower! It's quite scary going as high, and on a two-lane passage, as the Nice bridge does.
Posted by: Mary | September 8, 2009 9:02 PM
I like taking 301 and the bridge is part of the trip I like. It should be replaced though.
It's been quite awhile since I've been down that way, did they ever do anything about the at grade railroad crossing on 301?
Posted by: Oat | September 8, 2009 9:16 PM
I believe U.S. Navy ships have to get under that bridge to get to the Washington Navy Yard. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Not to mention all the sailboats heading for the Chesapeake Bay from the Washington area, so a lower bridge is not really an option, at least not much lower. By the way, having driven over this bridge just last year, I don't see the big urgency in replacing it and once again disagree with Mr. Dresser. I just don't think I-95 travelers will ever take this route, only locals who know better do like me. That's why there's rarely lots of traffic on it. The only way expanding this bridge would help I-95 in any significant way is if the mythical I-95 alternate route around DC is ever built and used this bridge. But I'll be dead before that ever happens if ever. So in my mind, its a complete waste of money to replace this bridge when there are so many more important roads projects around both DC, Baltimore, and even Ocean City, MD! The Rt. 90 bridge in OC is a complete death trap every year. The Route 50 drawbridge breaks every year. These are bridges that are REALLY HEAVILY used, yet completely not maintained or expanded or replaced. When I go to Florida and see all the nice fancy bridges that Daytona Beach has, I just shake my head in disgust because there are usually more people visiting Ocean City, MD during the summer months than most of the year in Daytona Beach, yet Daytona has all these safe bridges and OC does not have a single safe modern bridge! Sorry Mr. Dresser, but it's ridiculous to suggest that the Nice bridge should be a top priority over the ones I've mentioned, which by the way, seem to be getting almost NO ATTENTION even though people are dying on Rt. 90 in head on collisions constantly.
Posted by: JoeFab | September 9, 2009 3:44 AM
Having lived on the Northern Neck and driven back and forth to Baltimore regularly, I used the Nice Bridge more than most. I think.
The fact that it's two lanes only creates a major bottleneck on both sides of the bridge. And to Mary, whatever form the new bridge takes, it's likely to as tall since shipping has to pass beneath it.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | September 9, 2009 8:38 AM
Just went this way a couple of weekends ago on the way to VA Beach - originally we just got on 95 past Ft. AP Hill when going south this route, but if we're going to Richmond or anywhere east of there now we take 301 all the way to 295 outside Richmond.
We did change it up the last trip on the way home though and drove across to the Eastern Shore on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and came back across the Bay Bridge.
Posted by: Jeff Quinton | September 9, 2009 11:42 AM