Maryland Officials To Vote On Bay Bridge Plan That Would Double Traffic Capacity

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Transportation Authority Board is scheduled to vote this week on a plan that would replace the Chesapeake Bay Bridge with new spans designed to double lane capacity, marking a significant step in the state’s long-term effort to address congestion, safety concerns and aging infrastructure at one of Maryland’s busiest crossings.

The board is set to vote Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9 a.m., on a staff-recommended preferred alternative for the Chesapeake Bay Crossing Study: Tier 2 National Environmental Policy Act review. The recommendation, known as Alternative C, calls for constructing two new four-lane bridge spans across the Chesapeake Bay and removing the existing Bay Bridge spans.

State transportation officials said the proposal is based on years of engineering analysis, environmental review, public feedback and coordination with local, state and federal agencies. Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle said the recommended alternative best supports current and future travel needs while minimizing environmental impacts to the Chesapeake Bay.

Under the proposal, the new bridge spans would include full shoulders to improve safety and traffic reliability. Removing the existing bridge would eliminate narrow lanes and the lack of shoulders that contribute to congestion and maintenance-related delays. The plan would also increase navigational clearance to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, matching the clearance of the new Key Bridge and allowing larger ships access to the Port of Baltimore.

The recommended alternative also includes widening U.S. Route 50/301 to eight lanes between Oceanic Drive and Cox Creek to accommodate traffic transitions to the new crossing. The plan outlines financial commitments for transit-related improvements and includes an optional shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path, which transportation officials said will undergo further evaluation.

Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner said Alternative C is the most cost-effective of the build options studied and would have the least impact on natural, socioeconomic and cultural resources. Officials estimate the project could generate between $17 billion and $23 billion in economic activity and create 61,300 to 75,600 jobs, with a majority being direct construction employment.

The board’s vote would not represent final approval of the project. The recommended alternative will move forward for additional public and regulatory review as part of the federal environmental process. Public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to begin in late January 2026, with public hearings planned for February 2026. State and federal agency concurrence is anticipated in spring 2026, with a final decision expected in November 2026.

If funding is secured, final design work could begin in spring 2028, with construction anticipated to start in summer 2032.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge carries U.S. 50/301 traffic between Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Western Shore and is owned and operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority, which is funded through toll revenues rather than state tax dollars.