Maryland unveils $160M safety plan for Chesapeake Bay Bridge

A year after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which killed six people, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has announced plans to implement an estimated $160 million in upgrades to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The improvements include both long-term enhancements and short-term safety measures.

The MDTA owns and operates both the Key Bridge and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Although the Bay Bridge currently meets federal safety standards, officials are taking a proactive approach to address future risks.

A recent MDTA review concluded that the bridge’s piers require additional protection to meet updated voluntary safety guidelines. Proposed upgrades include the installation of new fenders and reinforced concrete-and-rock barriers—known as “dolphins”—designed to protect the bridge from potential ship collisions. MDTA engineers noted that these features could be integrated into a future replacement bridge, should one be constructed.

In the short term, safety measures under consideration include improved vessel communication systems and reduced ship speeds in the vicinity of the bridge.

The announcement follows the completion of a $600,000 MDTA study assessing the condition of the bridge, officially known as the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge.

After the Key Bridge collapse in 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that proactive safety measures might have prevented the tragedy. The agency identified 68 additional bridges, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, that require risk assessments to prevent future disasters.

While the NTSB did not suggest that these bridges are at immediate risk of collapse, it urged the 30 responsible bridge owners to evaluate structural vulnerabilities based on standards set

by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and to develop mitigation plans.

The 4.3-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Built in phases during the 1950s and 1970s, the dual-span bridge carries approximately 27 million vehicles annually. Beneath it flows one of the East Coast’s busiest maritime routes, serving thousands of recreational vessels, cargo ships, tankers and barges.

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