The Federal Highway Administration has approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement for a new Bay Bridge, thereby satisfying the requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act. The Maryland Department of Transportation Authority is now able to move forward with design of a new bridge crossing. The MDTA anticipates beginning design in 2028 and construction as soon as 2032.
Among changes that are anticipated for the crossing are removal of the existing bridges and construction of two new four-lane bridges, with a higher clearance. US 50/301 will also be widened to eight lanes, four in each direction, from west of Oceanic Drive to east of Cox Creek. The plan also commits to some land preservation on the Eastern Shore and funding transit-related investments up to $40 million. Decisions on a bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path have been put off.
CRC offered comments several times during the evaluation process. Our major concerns were that the environmental evaluations looked at only a narrow slice of disruption, not recognizing that the additional traffic from the expanded crossings with have negative impacts more widely than land that abuts the roadways and will go far beyond the 50/301 split, which is where the evaluation ended. Additionally, the land preservation, bicycle/pedestrian paths, and transit investments depend on future funds that are not guaranteed.
Details on the MDTA plan can be found at baycrossingstudy.com