NEXT PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION
TO RESULT IN NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS
ON WESTBOUND BAY BRIDGE
Motorists Should Anticipate Delays
BALTIMORE, MD (September 10, 2004) - New traffic patterns, lane shifts and possible delays will result from ongoing deck renovation work on the westbound span of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge during the fall construction season.

Beginning at 12 a.m. Monday, September 13 and continuing to 5 a.m. Wednesday, November 24, the Maryland Transportation Authority will close the left lane of the bridge's westbound span 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.  In order to minimize inconvenience to motorists, the center lane will only close between 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights through Sunday, October 31 and 7-days-a-week from November 1 to November 24. 

The original schedule called for a center lane closure on the westbound span beginning Monday, September 13 through Friday, September 17.  This weekly closure was to continue until Friday, October 8.  On Monday, October 11, the center lane was scheduled to be closed 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week until 5 a.m. Wednesday, November 24. 

During the left-lane closure, wide-load vehicles will be prohibited from crossing the westbound and eastbound spans until after 10 a.m., Monday through Friday.  Drivers of wide-load vehicles should follow the alternate route listed on their permits.

Additional scheduled lane closures and new traffic patterns are as follows:

  • Nightly, from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning, two lanes on the westbound span may be closed.

  • Nightly, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning, the entire westbound span may be closed. As such, two-way traffic will be opened on the eastbound span to accommodate motorists.

  • Periodically, during morning commuter hours, 5 to 8:45 a.m., traffic may be in two-way operation on the eastbound span, to allow for three lanes of westbound traffic.  If two-way traffic is implemented, motorists may experience a brief delay from 8:45 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, while two-way traffic operations are ended.

  • Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., traffic may be in two-way operation on the eastbound span, to allow for three lanes of westbound traffic.

  • As needed, workers may slow traffic periodically to accommodate construction activities.
Motorists are reminded to anticipate possible delays.  Inclement weather, heavy traffic, disabled vehicles and accidents all may impede flow, causing unexpected delays.

The westbound deck renovation work, which is scheduled to be complete in 2006, involves removing and replacing portions of the 30-year-old bridge deck including the railings in areas east and west of the bridge's main suspension spans.

The Authority appreciates motorists' patience during this project.  Please drive with caution and obey posted speed limits and overhead-lane control signals.  To help avoid unnecessary delays caused by disabled vehicles, motorists should check their vehicles' tires and gasoline and fluid levels prior to traveling the bridge.

For additional information on this project visit the Bay Bridge Deck Rehabilitation website at www.baybridgeproject.com.  For current conditions at the bridge contact the BAYSPAN hotline at 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726), or visit www.chart.state.md.us to view real-time camera images from the bridge's approaches.

The Maryland Transportation Authority owns and operates the state's seven toll facilities.  The Authority's six members, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the State Senate, serve as the agency's policy-setting and governing body.  Maryland Secretary of Transportation, Robert L. Flanagan, serves as Authority Chairman.