ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland’s William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge is an essential piece of infrastructure that’s responsible for thousands of residents crossing the Chesapeake Bay on a daily basis. Herschel H. Allen of Maryland-based J.E. Greiner Company designed and oversaw the construction of Maryland’s most notable bridge. With decades of history behind it, there are quite a few interesting things you should know about the Bay Bridge. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the ginormous structure:
The Bay Bridge Opened For Business Over 70 Years Ago
Though it may seem like a modern-day feat of engineering, the Bay Bridge was originally built more than 70 years ago. The Bay Bridge officially opened to Marylanders on July 30, 1952, though it requires regular maintenance for safety and repair purposes.
Residents Used A Ferry To Cross The Chesapeake Bay Before The Bay Bridge Was Built
Marylanders needed a way to cross the Chesapeake decades before the Bay Bridge was built, so a ferry service between Annapolis and Claiborne was established. The ferry trip was a 23-mile journey that took around two hours, but it was the best way to cross the Chesapeake Bay prior to a connecting bridge.
Planning For The Bay Bridge First Began In 1907
Though the Bay Bridge wasn’t open until 1952, PreservationMaryland.org reports that planning for it may have first begun around 1907. A few different concepts were approved throughout the years, including a bridge that would’ve connected Baltimore with Tolchester Beach, which was scrapped after the stock market crash in 1929. The Bay Bridge may not have been constructed until the 1940s, but it was being planned for decades prior, proving the importance the project had to communities across Maryland.
The Bay Bridge Is Named After William Preston Lane Jr.
Many Marylanders are aware that the Bay Bridge is named after William Preston Lane Jr. What you may not have known is that Lane was Maryland’s 52nd governor, elected in 1946. The Bay Bridge was named after Governor Lane since he was the sitting governor while the bridge was under construction, and he was a major proponent of the Maryland wonder.
The Bay Bridge’s Construction Encouraged Trade Across Maryland
Getting goods across the two sides of the Chesapeake Bay became much simpler after the construction of the Bay Bridge. This would affect industries like agriculture in a positive way by introducing an easy avenue for trade, as per PreservationMaryland.org. The introduction of the Bay Bridge also aided tourism, as it made crossing the Chesapeake Bay much easier, allowing travelers to reach their destinations quickly.
Thousands Of Workers Built The Bay Bridge — Some Housed In A Floating Hotel
Baltimore Magazine reported that over 2,000 laborers helped construct the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge. Some workers even lived in a floating hotel at a local pier throughout the construction project, allowing them to more easily commute to work. According to Baltimore Magazine, the Bay Bridge took over six million man-hours to fully complete — a truly impressive feat.
World War II Delayed The Bay Bridge’s Construction
According to the MDTA website, the need for a bridge that spans the Chesapeake Bay was acknowledged in 1938, but the Second World War took priority over the famous piece of infrastructure. It wasn’t until 1947 that the State Roads Commission was instructed to begin building the massive Bay Bridge.
The Bay Bridge Was Originally The Third-Longest Bridge In The World
Upon completion of the Bay Bridge in the 1950s, it was initially the third-longest bridge in the world, according to PreservationMaryland.org. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay at 4.3 miles long, the Bay Bridge revolutionized transportation across the famous body of water, and its record-breaking length was part of what made the structure so impressive.
A Parade Was Held For The Bay Bridge’s Opening
According to PreservationMaryland.org, a small parade led by sitting Gov. Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin was held to celebrate the Bay Bridge’s long-awaited opening, with thousands of residents showing up to the event. The car parade was held to signal that the bridge was finished and that the two sides of Maryland would now forever be united.
Motorists Can Hire Drivers To Cross The Bay Bridge Due To Its Reputation As Scary
Some motorists don’t like driving across the Bay Bridge because of its reputation as one of the scariest bridges in America. Companies like the Kent Island Express offer a driver service for crossing the 4.3-mile-long structure, and it’s quite popular with Marylanders who have a fear of bridges, heights or water.
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Here’s a fun fact, its falling down and needs to be replaced
Sounds like it’s going to take just as long to find a fix/replace the bridge as it did to originally get it built
A child, I remember when the Bay Bridge opened. My dad drove a group of friends across the bridge from Glen Burnie. Many years later I drove myself for the first time. It is a little scary. 🙂
Ha. I’ve been the driver that arranges help. One year the police hooked me up with a bachelor party to do the driving. All good. Btw I have completed the walk across the bridge twice. Photos and certificate to prove it.
Why the curve in the bridge?
A short lived directive from the US Corps of Engineering mandated all bridges had to meet the shoreline at perpendicular angles. So, the bridge was designed to meet these requirements.
(Note: Needs to be verified. I have only seen this once in an article.)
How do bicyclists get across? At least a ferry could accommodate them and pedestrians. What is the traffic like?
The bend in the bridge is necessary because maritime rules say a bridge has to be 90 degrees to a shipping lane.
It is
In 1939 two big Bridges were built in San Francisco and in New York City both were oversized and appropriately designed the Bay Bridge built in 1952 was undersized in 1952 and 1972 it’s a sign of poor planning and poor execution and why would you ever build a three-lane bridge and a two-lane Bridge both Bridges were undersized they should always have been a minimum of 4lanes
a toll should be thought of as a tax, for going a short distance.
My family was traveling across the single span Bay Bridge in 1970 or so on a hot summer day when traffic came to a dead stop and we were stuck behind a huge truck transporting live chickens. Let me tell you, you never forget that smell!!
wonderful memories of taking the ferry across that stretch as a little kid, and then the bridge, as glorious as it was (ONE Bridge) did not take away my floating pre-school enchantment. A rare and wonderful treat to cross the bay, have daddy drive us then to the Nation’s Capitol, the magic D.C. Land!