It will replace the barrel-and-cone system, making it more efficient to convert to two-way operations and keeping workers safer.Īnne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman issued a statement in support of the Tier 2 study, despite his previous opposition of all three Tier 1 Corridor possibilities that were located in Anne Arundel.īack in 2020 Pittman said, “Any of the three options will be severely disruptive to existing communities and sensitive environmental areas. The bridge is also getting a new Automated Lane Closure System. Hogan has prioritized Bay Bridge fixes in recent years, completing a westbound re-decking project and removing toll booths at the bridge in favor of all-electric tolling to keep traffic moving. Tier 2 will look at how these no-build options could be used in conjunction with other alternatives, however.Īdditional information and public participation opportunities for the Tier 2 NEPA Study will be posted to. The Tier 1 study concluded that no-build options like ferry service, rail, bus and transportation system management wouldn’t solve the bridge crossing traffic problem as a stand-alone option. If the Tier 2 study results in choosing a No-Build Alternative, no further action of any kind would be taken, according to MDTA. Building the bridge itself would cost up to $9 billion. If one of the build routes is selected, there would be another step before final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The study would take four to five years to complete. The MDTA Board is expected to vote on funding for the Tier 2 NEPA later this month. “As we learned from the Tier 1 Study, the public’s contributions in this process are invaluable,” says Ports. MDTA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says it will engage with residents, communities, officials, and the general public on the Tier 2 study. MDTA Chairman and Transportation Secretary Jim Ports explains, “The Tier 2 study will identify and evaluate a No-Build Alternative as well as various crossing alignments and types-such as a new bridge, a bridge/tunnel or replacement of existing spans.”
Tier 2 will build upon those findings, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) says, “and identify specific alignment alternatives within Corridor 7, which is two miles wide and 22 miles long, from the Severn River Bridge in Anne Arundel County to the US 50/US 301 split in Queen Anne’s County.” It concluded that Corridor 7, the one containing the existing Bay Bridge, was most feasible. The Bay Crossing Tier 1 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) looked at several locations for possible crossings, along with a no-build alternative.
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