I was talking to a guy yesterday who said that several proposals are being considered, in lieu of the fact that the Thomas Johnson bridge is inadequate and in serious disrepair. He said that future proposals pretty much rule out very high bridges such as the one existing now, since the original reasons for having such a high bridge never really panned out.

What has anyone heard? What are the plans?

try this link

MDSHA: PLC - SM351_11 - MD 0004 SOLOMONS ISLAND RD/PATUXENT BEACH RD UPGRADE BETWEEN MD 2 AND MD 235 - Project Information (http://apps.roads.maryland.gov/WebProjectLifeCycle/ProjectInformation.asp?projectno=SM3511118)

There was an article about it in the County Times last month too.

http://countytimes.somd.com/archive/2010/05-may/2010-05-13.pdf

You can bet your next paycheck that they will go with alternative #1, do nothing. Doesn't matter to me because I will be retired before they think about a new bridge. :shrug:

I don't care!

I only across the bridge to go to Port o' Call Liquors and Woodburn's. And that's only during "off" hours.

I was talking to a guy yesterday who said that several proposals are being considered, in lieu of the fact that the Thomas Johnson bridge is inadequate and in serious disrepair. He said that future proposals pretty much rule out very high bridges such as the one existing now, since the original reasons for having such a high bridge never really panned out.

What has anyone heard? What are the plans?

The Solomons Business Association and Solomons Civic Center met with a state highway rep in early May (I think). There are three options 1) build a new span and keep existing bridge for southbound traffic 2) demolish existing brige and add a bridge that includes 4 lanes for automobiles, pedestrian and bike lanes and emergency/break down lanes. 3) Do nothing.
Keep in mind, the study is funded; however the state does not have the roughly 900 million dollars it will take to build the bridge and do all the road work associated with it. Most of the road work is on the St Mary's side with the widening 4 south and redoing the intersection at 235 and 4. The construction on the Calvert side would effect route 2/4 up to Dowell rd and I think they said it was mostly in widening and redoing the drainage ditches and median. Much concern was expressed over the closing of on and off ramps and we were assured the only one affected would be the exit that takes you out at the Calvert Visitors Center/ Marine Museum. That would be permanently closed.
Aesthetics are a main concern from a lot of homeowners and if a second span is built, it may be significantly lower than the existing bridge. They also plan to conduct a noise study.
Initially, it was proposed to build a new bridge on the north side however that is no longer a consideration; according to the state guy. Many Solomons folks were upset by this but the right of way purchases would have cost too much plus there is a cemetary to consider and I think a SMECO station.
Commisioner Jerry Clark seems to stay pretty involved with this. Of course, like the rest of us at the meeting, he has a lot to gain or lose depending on how this goes. He owns 2 businesses in Solomons.

With a cost of 900 million, we won't see a new bridge for a long time.

Think I'll just get one of these.

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With a cost of 900 million, we won't see a new bridge for a long time.

Exactly.

I baby born in 2010 will be an adult before anything is even begun on this project.

They need to do something , I would think that DHS would have some money and imput on this issue since there a nuke plant just miles away , if there was ever a emergency there at the plant or accident at the Gas Plant you cant get people over that bridge fast enough to get way from the area. Plus how long are those support bands on the bridge going to last before it falls in to the river. If it does the lawsuits will cost more then the new bridge

Build the new bridge , move that welcome center I am sure you can find a place to put it or run the bridge over it. Move the exits at the bottom of the bridge that cause back ups anyway , same problem with old WW Bridge exits at the foot of the bridges caused problems for years , just move then up Rt 4 so you have a little bit more side road to get to Solomons at least the hundreds of thousands of cars that need to get back and forth can move freely.
As Spock put it
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" I belive this is true in this case ,
The next meeting I would suggest ALL the people that are stuck for hours when a car has a flat on the bridge show up and make there voice heard.

I don't care!

I only across the bridge to go to Port o' Call Liquors and Woodburn's. And that's only during "off" hours.


Too bad the bridge is not a draw bridge. Would be great if it could be opened just as you are making your little trek across, during the "off" hours of course. Would you care then?

I recieved a survey (well sort of) in the mail a couple months ago saying the proposed projects for the stretch between Calvert and St. Mary's. It asked me to write a letter saying which I think would be best. I assumed everyone got it and since I dont drive over the bridge daily I threw it away, but kept the mailing address. Talked to a co worker which commutes from Calvert to St. Mary's, and she didnt get one. I gave her the address that they suggested me send my letter to, and I assume she wrote one.
Some of the options were a bypass, underpass, widening the bridge, building another bridge, making two lanes between the intersection and bridge, and there were lots of other options.
The reasons were to make a walking and biking path on the bridge itself, to reduce traffic, to make it passable in the event of an emergency, or accident and to keep the traffic moving instead of stop and go.
I think this would be awesome and now I regret throwing away the flyer but hopefully she wrote a letter. I still could but Im not good at making choices...lol
So I havent heard anything else about it, but I assume they want to get working on it once they figure out what to do. It would really cut back traffic.

Too bad the bridge is not a draw bridge. Would be great if it could be opened just as you are making your little trek across, during the "off" hours of course. Would you care then?

It would be really cool if part of the span was missing and you drove off it like the car on the Bay Bridge did in the Quake of '89. :yay:

It would be really cool if part of the span was missing and you drove off it like the car on the Bay Bridge did in the Quake of '89. :yay:

:yay::lmao:

:yay::lmao:

You get me! :huggy:

You get me! :huggy:

I'd like to...

I'd like to...

As if.

As if.

No, I wood, believe me, for real, no doubt, honest injun, pinky swear...:howdy:

They need to do something , I would think that DHS would have some money and imput on this issue since there a nuke plant just miles away , if there was ever a emergency there at the plant or accident at the Gas Plant you cant get people over that bridge fast enough to get way from the area. Plus how long are those support bands on the bridge going to last before it falls in to the river. If it does the lawsuits will cost more then the new bridge

Build the new bridge , move that welcome center I am sure you can find a place to put it or run the bridge over it. Move the exits at the bottom of the bridge that cause back ups anyway , same problem with old WW Bridge exits at the foot of the bridges caused problems for years , just move then up Rt 4 so you have a little bit more side road to get to Solomons at least the hundreds of thousands of cars that need to get back and forth can move freely.
As Spock put it
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" I belive this is true in this case ,
The next meeting I would suggest ALL the people that are stuck for hours when a car has a flat on the bridge show up and make there voice heard.

In case of these emergencies, the bridge would be made one-way, South bound, and there would be two lanes.

This bridge was more than adequate before the BRAC people came here.

Bull. I lived here before BRAC, and the bridge was jammed every morning and afternoon like it is now.

Meeting coming up this fall. I'm sure the date will be published again.