Chesapeake Bay Bridge

This article is about the bridge in Maryland. For the bridge and tunnel array in Virginia, please see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, also known as the Bay Bridge and officially known as the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay as part of US Rt. 50/Rt. 301 from Anne Arundel County, Maryland to Queen Anne's County, Maryland. The bridge's dual spans provide a direct connection between Maryland's rural Eastern Shore and the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The bridge also forms part of an alternative route from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the nation's capital and has been the location of the Bay Bridge Walk for 28 years.

With lengths of 4.33 and 4.35 miles, the bridges are among the world's longest and most-scenic over-water structures. The original span was built in 1952 and provides a two-lane roadway for eastbound traffic. The parallel structure opened in 1973 and has three lanes for westbound travelers. During the past fiscal year, nearly 25 million vehicles crossed the Bay Bridge. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a toll facility; it costs $2.50 for a normal vehicle to continue eastbound.

Current plans to construct a third Maryland span across the Chesapeake Bay are in the preliminary stages, with a southerly crossing connecting St. Mary's and Somerset Counties the most sensible option.

See also

• List of bridges by length

External Links

• MdTA Chesapeake Bay Bridge Website
• Roads to the Future website