The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board has approved a plan to remove and replace the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge to provide drivers with a “smoother travel experience.”
On December 18, 2025, MDTA voted to approve a plan for the Chesapeake Bay Crossing which includes the construction of two new, four-lane bridge spans and removal of the existing Bay Bridge spans.
The MDTA-approved plan, dubbed “Alternative C,” includes the following measures:
- Two new four-lane bridge spans with full shoulders across the Chesapeake Bay, enhancing safety while providing additional transportation capacity, reliability and mobility;
- Removal of the existing Bay Bridge spans, addressing existing roadway deficiencies including narrow lanes and lack of shoulders, eliminating the need for major rehabilitation projects and associated lane closures and delays, and increasing navigational clearance to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The navigational clearance will match that of the new Key Bridge, allowing larger ships to access the Port of Baltimore;
- Widening of US 50/301 to eight lanes (four per direction) from west of Oceanic Drive to east of Cox Creek to accommodate transitions to the new crossing;
- Financial commitments for transit-related improvements; and
- An optional bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path, which the MDTA will further evaluate to determine if it should be included.
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2032…