A Third Bay Bridge?

[Olney Blue]

Written by Kristen Wyatt
The Associated Press
Created:4/23/2006 3:33:46 PM
Last Updated:4/23/2006 4:45:52 PM

http://www.wusatv9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=48725


It's been more than a year since state officials started studying the possibility of building a third bridge across the Chesapeake Bay. A task force was appointed, public meetings were held, and reams of charts and graphs were produced for a report due this summer on a possible new bridge.

But are state officials any closer to figuring out where to put a new bridge to ease traffic congestion? Some close to the task force doubt it. Opposition is strong across the Eastern Shore to a new bridge.

"I'm laying in front of the bulldozers if it comes to that," said Queen Anne's County Commissioner Gene Ransom. "We're adamantly opposed to a third bridge. It means more development, more traffic. My gut feeling is, we'll never have a third bridge built."

The problems with building a new bridge, in addition to the one in Maryland and one in Virginia, are many.

[DaveinMD]

1. Gene

is my client.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Global warming could make a new bridge pointless

Seriously, if the sea level rises, the whole Eastern Shore could end up underwater.

[yellowcanine]

3. First the state should try discounted rates for non peak travel and using

EZ pass. Charge $2 instead of $2.50 and see what happens. The other thing they could try is to run a high speed car only ferry from Calvert to Dorchester from May 1 through September 31. Charge about $10 each way to help cover the costs. That is enough to make a difference in off setting the infrastructure cost but not enough to discourage use by vacationers. Besides, people like ferries and would see it as a highlight of a trip to the beach. The investment would be relatively modest compared to the cost of a bridge.