The Maryland Transportation Authority Board on Thursday approved a plan to tear down the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and build a $15 billion replacement right next to it.
The proposed new bridge would feature two, four-lane bridge spans with full shoulders, almost doubling capacity. The current westbound span has three lanes and narrow shoulders, while the eastbound span has only two lanes, leading to hourslong backups as summer vacationers flock to the beaches on the Atlantic coast.
Plans call for construction of the project, referred to as “Alternative C,” to begin in 2032. Costs associated with the new bridge are expected to run between $15 billion to $17 billion…