STEVENSVILLE, Md.- The Maryland Transportation Authority is in the process of replacing the bridge deck surface in the right lane of the westbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The MDTA said Wednesday that it hopes to complete the $27 million project in the first year/construction season with crews potentially working into May 2020.
As part of the project, work includes making deck repairs, sealing the bridge deck, and replacing existing lane-use signal gantries and steel rail posts. The right lane of the westbound span is closed 24/7.
The MDTA said it is moving forward on a series of steps to shorten the duration of the project and mitigate the traffic impact on commuters, visitors, and local residents.
As the winter season approaches, and with the 24/7 milling operation 100% complete Bay Bridge work has begun the transition into the cold weather season.
Officials said that approximately 54% of the latex modified concrete has already been laid on the westbound right lane. This was achieved in part through the off-peak weekday westbound center lane closures, which are part of MDTA’s continued efforts to shorten the duration of the bridge project and mitigate traffic impact on commuters, visitors, and local residents. Crews were able to take advantage of warmer days to pour concrete well into November.
The MDTA said that due to its significant achievements and completion of the milling operations, its seasonal construction schedule is being revised, and the work crews have been reduced in size since their work is completed. During the winter months, planned work will still take place to remove and replace the roadway joints, repair the full depth deck punctures, and remove and replace steel railings and rail posts. The westbound right lane will remain closed 24/7, as nearly half of the deck has not yet been resurfaced. Once the deck is milled, the milled section cannot support traffic.
The MDTA said its "aggressive goal" is to complete the project in the first year/construction season with crews potentially working into May 2020. However, officials said they cannot guarantee that timeline due to the key role weather plays in this type of work. The MDTA said that as the weather warms and all phases of work resume, traffic volumes will also start to increase.
