Chesapeake Bay Bridge

:This article is about the bridge in Maryland. For the bridge-tunnel in Virginia, please see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Related Topics:
Maryland - Virginia - Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

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The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge and officially the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge, is a major bridge in Maryland operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) that crosses the Chesapeake Bay as part of US 50/US 301. Running from Sandy Point near Annapolis in Anne Arundel County to Kent Island in Queen Anne's County, the bridge's dual spans connect Maryland's rural Eastern Shore and the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The bridge is also part of an alternate route for I-95 between northern Delaware and the Washington, D.C. area. There is a one-way (eastbound) toll, which is $2.50 for passenger vehicles.

Related Topics:
William Preston Lane, Jr. - Bridge - Maryland - Maryland Transportation Authority - Chesapeake Bay - US 50 - US 301 - Annapolis - Anne Arundel County - Kent Island - Queen Anne's County - Maryland's rural Eastern Shore - Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area - I-95

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With lengths of 4.33 and 4.35 miles, the bridges are among the world's longest and most-scenic over-water structures. The original span, built in 1952, has two lanes that normally carry eastbound traffic. A parallel span, opened in 1973 just to the north of the original span, has three lanes that normally carry westbound traffic. A lane control system, consisting of overhead lane-use signals on the approaches and both spans, is used during peak travel times and incidents to close lanes or reverse traffic flow. On the outset of weekends during the summer, one lane on the north span is typically reversed to accommodate the heavy volume of eastbound beach traffic. For one day in May, the south span is closed?and the north span switched to two-way traffic?for the Bay Bridge Walk, which has been held since 1975; however, starting in 2005, the walk is no longer held annually http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Chesa_Bay_Bridge_Walk.html.

Related Topics:
Miles - 1952 - 1973 - Bay Bridge Walk - 2005

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