SOLOMONS, Md. – On August 14, 2023, St. Mary’s County Commissioner Eric Colvin launched a survey asking for community members’ input on a potential toll bridge – built by a private company called United Bridge Partners – that would replace the current Thomas Johnson Bridge in Solomons.
Let’s just say the community is not on board.
Colvin revealed the results as of 6 a.m. on August 22, 2023, which showed out of 2,257 people who voted on the survey, an overwhelming 93% opposed a private company building a toll bridge. Only 7% of voters actually supported the idea.
According to Colvin’s update on his Facebook page, the survey collected 1,395 responses from St. Mary’s County, 795 responses from Calvert County, 51 responses from other counties in Maryland, and 16 responses from outside of Maryland.
“People gave a variety of reasons for opposition to a toll bridge, and the 7% of people who support a toll bridge also have some valid reasons–mainly that we need a replacement for that bridge,” Colvin stated in the post.
Colvin also noted that the Thomas Johnson Bridge receives an average of 25,000 crossings daily, but the Nice-Middleton Bridge on Route 301 to Virginia receives fewer daily crossings at 17,800.
“This is a highly used and important bridge, and I remain opposed to a toll. Be on the lookout for Town Hall style information sessions sometime in the future from the company who proposed the toll, United Bridge Partners,” stated Colvin.
Colvin and other fellow Commissioners are actively monitoring and working on the situation. On August 16, 2023, Colvin posted an update to his page where he revealed that he and Commissioner President Randy Guy had a meeting with Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld and his team to discuss St. Mary’s County’s needs, including a new bridge with no tolls.
So, be on the lookout for regular updates on the situation.
If you would like to give your thoughts on the situation, you can fill out the survey by clicking here.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
Toll it up
If you cut out the corrupt bureaucracy that causes projects like this to cost five times what they should, then a toll wouldn’t be necessary.
No toll. This state already taxes us too much. For little return at that.
How shocking! People don’t want to pay for something they need? In America? You’ve got to be kidding!! Seriously, what kind of BS is this “survey” and the article about it?
What are taxes?
Please no, this would be horrible for those businesses in Solomons and our pockets as well.
We already pay enough taxes to maintain the roads. Also, this bridge was built in the worst place possible. The water in that area is very deep, which required extra cost for the bridge to be built. Navy required the bridge to be able to accommodate large ships that were to be repaired at Solomons. Don’t think that ever happened. We need to support our Navy community, but. If a bridge is to be built, try up the river where the water is not so deep. Queen tree road area? Clarks landing area?
100% agree
@Alvin
100% agree… with what?…toll it up, or no toll?
You’re not quite correct about the water depth. Take a look at bathymetry charts for the area, nothing is out of the normal depths. If you go just 1/2 mile SE from the bridge it’s half the depth of center span of the bridge. The only part that is truly deep is 1/3 of a mile. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 140′ which really will increase the cost quite a bit so I’m all for MDOT and the Governor talking to the USN and DoD about relaxing the height requirement.
If I correctly remember, years back the gas tax in Maryland was raised and the justification was some of the money was going to go to towards replacing the bridge according to our local Delegate John Bohanon and the Democratically controlled Maryland House. What happened to the money raised by some of the highest gas taxes in the region, that now the consideration has even been suggested we consider a toll bridge to pay for it?
Bohanon is a Hoyer side kick. Remember hoyer,Carson and Van holland under the T.J. bridge saying they were getting Federal money for this bridge? Hoyer Screwed us again just to get elected again.
That bridge replacement is 30-50 years out
Fake news
Where’s ol’ Stent boy on this? He has inserted his name to ALL the growth experienced at the base…why hasn’t he done anything about the failing bridge? Because he doesn’t really have the power or influence he claims to.
Something needs to be done, the bridge is out dated and needs to be replaced
The bridge was built specifically, and was a mandatory requirement, for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant to be approved for construction, for the purpose of emergency egress south of the Plant in case of a Plant emergency. As well as the widening of Rt 4 to a four lane highway at the time. With all the residential and commercial growth since the 70’s, when it was built, it is far past time to replace it with a higher capacity four lane bridge. Without a toll. All these politicians are playing with the lives of 10’s of thousands of citizens by kicking the can down the road. It is the State’s responsibility to pony up and build a new bridge.
That bridge isn’t going to be replaced, the state has conducted several studies on it, the cost to replace it is staggering because of the amount of property that would have to be purchased, it will never be replaced in my lifetime, maybe in my children’s lifetime it will
Where did they come up with the 301 bridge only having 17,800 crossings per day? I’m fairly sure 301 is a busier highway than Rt 4…
Anyways, you cry about wanting a bridge, the state won’t build one. A company will but you don’t want the toll… wah wah wah.
Bring on the toll! Would cut the traffic in Calvert by half, couldn’t do it quick enough!
Send billions to Ukraine and thats ok. Help out Americans, NOPE. Build our bridge and build another bay bridge you idiots.
I’m good with a toll bridge, probably the only way it would be replaced in less than 20 years. Hopefully they waste nothing on bike lanes for it too.
The gas tax was mentioned by another… how about we stop sending all that gas tax revenue to Baltimore??? (Hmmm… look it up)…
for God sakes, don’t put a toll on it
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady!