ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- A study that was commissioned to pursue a third span on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Safety guidelines that were implemented to prevent the spread of the virus have scuttled plans for public hearings on the project. The hearings are required by federal guidelines to be in-person.
Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman John Sales said in an email that a schedule for hearings will be updated in the near future.
A third span could alleviate traffic along the bridge, which has grown over the years. It is only expected to get worse. Long backups aren’t uncommon. And people who live near the bridge have complained of difficulties getting home when traffic is heavy.