Federal Approval Clears Path for New Chesapeake Bay Bridge Spans

The Maryland Transportation Authority has received final federal environmental approval for replacing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, clearing the way for design work and eventual construction. The selected plan calls for two four-lane spans with full shoulders, followed by removal of the existing crossings.

The new bridges would stand about 230 feet above the water, meeting Coast Guard clearance requirements and allowing larger ships to reach the Port of Baltimore. The project also includes widening U.S. 50/301 to four lanes in each direction along a stretch near the bridge approaches.

The authority expects design to begin in 2028, with construction potentially starting in 2032. The estimated cost is between $14.8 billion and $17.6 billion. Officials say the work is intended to improve safety, capacity and trip reliability, while addressing narrow lanes and the lack of shoulders on the current bridges.

The plan also includes as much as $40 million to enhance transit and conserve land on the Eastern Shore, along with a possible path for bicycles and pedestrians. Officials project the project could add $23 billion to the local economy and create more than 60,000 jobs.

The existing crossings opened in 1952 and 1973 and together carry about 27 million vehicles annually. The new bridge project will overlap with construction of the replacement Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.