UPDATE: MDTA board votes to advance study of “Alternative C” for Chesapeake Bay Bridge

UPDATE: MDTA Board Votes to Advance Study of “Alternative C” for Chesapeake Bay Bridge

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board voted Thursday morning to move forward with a further study of “Alternative C” for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge project.

In the coming months, officials will continue to gather public input while researching elements of the proposal. During the meeting, the Board also agreed to explore how bike paths and a pedestrian lane could impact the project’s cost.

Discussions on the future of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge progressed Thursday as the Board voted to advance a study of “Alternative C,” which focuses on the economic and environmental impacts of potential changes to the crossing.

Melissa Williams, MDTA’s director of planning and program development, said, “Based on both engineering and environmental analyses, the team has found that Alternative C would best meet the project’s purpose and need.”

Alternative C would replace the aging Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans with two new crossings, each with four lanes. The plan would implement contraflow traffic, allowing for safer operations during maintenance and emergencies, officials said.

“Things like evacuations of the Eastern Shore could be managed, and the plan would provide a 230-foot vertical navigational clearance, greatly enhancing access to the Port of Baltimore,” Williams added.

The option could also include an optional shared-use bicycle and pedestrian path, though the cost remains a significant point of debate.

“The cost without the shared-use path is between $14.8 billion and $16.4 billion, and the cost with the shared-use path is between $16.1 billion and $17.6 billion,” Williams said.

Local psychology associate Heather Brown highlighted both the benefits and potential risks of adding a walking lane.

“Physical health is great, and it ties into your mental health because as you exercise, you’re producing natural chemicals that improve your mood,” Brown said.

However, Brown noted that bridges of the size and scale of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge can present risks for individuals contemplating suicide.

“If a walking path is added, I hope there are precautions in place,” she said. “It’s important to ensure that officers responding are trained in crisis intervention so they can effectively de-escalate situations.”

A public hearing on the project is scheduled for February.

If funding becomes available, the project could enter the design phase by 2028, with construction potentially beginning as early as 2032.

DELMARVA – The future of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is up for a vote this week, with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board set to choose a recommended alternative for the structure on Thursday.

At 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 18, the MDTA will meet in Baltimore to vote on a proposal that has been in the works since 2024. It includes the construction of two new, four-lane bridge spans, as well as the removal of the existing Bay Bridge spans. The recommendation chosen is more commonly known as “Alternative C.”

“This recommendation is an exciting step that moves us closer to a Bay crossing that provides a smoother travel experience for those who drive over the bridge and the Marylanders who live by it,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “Alternative C is the option that best supports Marylanders’ current and future daily travel needs with the least environmental impact on our treasured Chesapeake Bay.”

The Bay Bridge, originally opened in 1952, currently faces a number of issues, including ship height clearance restraints and the severe influx of travelers over recent years.

Alternative C would pave the way for the widening of US 50/301 to eight lanes, with four traveling in either direction. Additionally, MDTA officials say they will be further evaulating a potential bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path in the area.

“Alternative C best fulfills the study’s purpose and need while considering environmental and financial responsibility,” said MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner. “Of the build alternatives, it is the most cost-effective, impacts the least amount of natural, socio-economic and cultural resources.”

Gartner also asserted that the recommendation would bring between $17 to $23 billion into the local economy, creating 61,300 to 75,600 jobs. This would create $4.2 to $6 billion in wages during the construction period.

Both the general public and agencies will have the opportunity to comment on the recommendation beginning in late Jan. 2026, with public hearings planned for the following month. However, it is anticipated that the Federal Highway Administration will not identify their selected alternative until Nov. 2026.

For additional updates and information on the proposed alternatives, click here. To attend the Dec. 18 meeting virtually, click here.

This article was originally published on Dec. 16 at 3:45 p.m.