Thomas Johnson Bridge

[luthersomd]

More baloney

If the Nuclear Regulatory Commision (NRC) had not required an evacuation route for those Calvert County residents living south of the Calvert Cliff's,
No one would have ever anted up for the expense of The TJ bridge.

I am amazed at how people rewrite history to suit theiir own story. There was never any discussion of an evacuation route for Calvert Cliffs when the Thomas Johnson Bridge was being constructed. I know that for a fact. That was an invented story some years later. Go and research the history. I lived it.

 

[Sharon]

I am amazed at how people rewrite history to suit theiir own story. There was never any discussion of an evacuation route for Calvert Cliffs when the Thomas Johnson Bridge was being constructed. I know that for a fact.

Prove it. Show me the facts. I looked for them and couldn't find any about BG&E or the slot machine deal you mentioned.

 

[luthersomd]

The taxpayers Bridge

Most of that information goes back to the mid 60s and its probably available in the Maryland Archives and Newspaper libraries. I don't have documents to prove it. I have lived here all my life and worked with the government for 40 years. I remember all the bridge discussions. You can choose to believe me or not. I don't really care. I know for an iron clad fact that BG7E didn't build the bridge with their funds. I also know that the taxpayers of Maryland built it!!

 

[Sharon]

If the Nuclear Regulatory Commision (NRC) had not required an evacuation route for those Calvert County residents living south of the Calvert Cliff's,
No one would have ever anted up for the expense of The TJ bridge.

That is baloney!! The state agreed to build the Thomas Johnson Bridge as part of a deal to do away with slot machines in Southern Maryland. That was agreed on in 1965 and it took 12 years to get the project through permits, engineering and construction. It was all taxpayer mnoney that built that bridge!!

I am amazed at how people rewrite history to suit theiir own story. There was never any discussion of an evacuation route for Calvert Cliffs when the Thomas Johnson Bridge was being constructed. I know that for a fact. That was an invented story some years later. Go and research the history. I lived it.
----
Most of that information goes back to the mid 60s and its probably available in the Maryland Archives and Newspaper libraries. I don't have documents to prove it. I have lived here all my life and worked with the government for 40 years. I remember all the bridge discussions. You can choose to believe me or not. I don't really care. I know for an iron clad fact that BG7E didn't build the bridge with their funds. I also know that the taxpayers of Maryland built it!!

My question was why the bridge was built. It's not about the funds. You said as part of a deal to do away with slot machines and someone else said it was because of an evacuation route for BG&E. I couldn't find any information on which it was either way. You keep on it being built with taxpayer funds, which has nothing to do with my question.

 

[luthersomd]

Question answered!!

Sharon....The bridge was built to connect the two counties at the southern ends. It was a 60 mile round trip to go from Solomons to Lexington Park over single lane roads in the 1960s. Many Calvert residents worked at Pax River and they were ferried back and forth by boat. The legislators in the three counties got together and formed the Tri-County Council to work on transportation and economic development issues. This was all done with state support because of the slot machine faze out. Slot machines in those days were a big part of the Southern Maryland economy.

The Thomas Johnson Bridge was a recommendation of that group in 1965. It took twelve years of planning, engineering and construction. It was opened in December 1977. I hope this answers your question as to WHY the bridge was built.

 

[Sharon]

Sharon....The bridge was built to connect the two counties at the southern ends. It was a 60 mile round trip to go from Solomons to Lexington Park over single lane roads in the 1960s. Many Calvert residents worked at Pax River and they were ferried back and forth by boat. The legislators in the three counties got together and formed the Tri-County Council to work on transportation and economic development issues. This was all done with state support because of the slot machine faze out. Slot machines in those days were a big part of the Southern Maryland economy.

The Thomas Johnson Bridge was a recommendation of that group in 1965. It took twelve years of planning, engineering and construction. It was opened in December 1977. I hope this answers your question as to WHY the bridge was built.

Thank you. I apprectiate your effort to answer my question.

I'm also inclined to believe your comment about the bridge evacuation being an afterthought. It seems that CCNPP went into operation before the bridge was finished (see below) unless someone else has different information.

Calvert Cliffs 1
40 MI S of Annapolis MD
Lusby, MD 20657

Status: Operating
Owner/Operator: Constellation
Ticker: CEG 60.15 -0.02
Containment Type: PWR-DRYAMB
Construction Permit Issued: 1969-07-07
Operating License Issued: 1974-07-31
Commercial Operation: 1975-05-08
License Expiration: 2014-07-31
Liscensed MWt: 2700
Net Capacity: 845 MWe
NSS Supplier: COMB CE
AE: BECH
Constructor: BECH
Docket: 050-00317
License: US-317
License Type: OL-FP
License Number: DPR-53

 

[Vince]

I remember when the dayum bridge was shutdown in the late 80's for about 3 months. It really sucked. Just moved to Lusby and they shut the bridge down for repairs. Had to drive to Benedict and around, or take the boat. Of course with the hours I was working at the time the boat was not feasible.

 

[Voter2002]

I remember when the dayum bridge was shutdown in the late 80's for about 3 months.

Week of June 18th, 1988 to be exact. Left town for my honeymoon...coming back down Rt 4 a week later...dayum bridge closed!!!!!!!

 

[jazz lady]

Week of June 18th, 1988 to be exact. Left town for my honeymoon...coming back down Rt 4 a week later...dayum bridge closed!!!!!!!

Good memory. I was working in La Plata and living in Lusby at the time. I get all the way down the road, top down and listening to a tape, and turn onto Route 4 towards the bridge. The nice police officer stopped me, said the bridge was closed, I asked for how long, and he said "until further notice." It was a long drive back up to Hughesville, across 231, then down the road to Lusby. I got home around 7:30.

Thank goodness I had taken a job up in La Plata just a few months earlier so I had the option to take Route 231 to and from work. I would have hated being one of the "boat people" commuting to Pax every day, especially in winter and stormy weather.

 

[Hessian]

Hot summer!

I'd drive down to the Solomon's base...load up with my bike on a LCI, take the 3 mile boat run over to the NAS docks,..then bike 4 miles over to the Archaeological site I was working with Jeff-Patterson staff.

Good memories but it was pretty grueling.
Everybody I "commuted" with had a pretty decent attitude.
I think they'd need more than two 30 year old LCI's if they closed the bridge now!

 

[luthersomd]

Bridge Announcement

Governor Ehrlich will be at Solomons on Friday, October 6th at 3:30 pm to make a major announcement about the Thomas Johnson Bridge. It will be at the Gazebo on the boardwalk. Remember you heard it here first.

 

[willie]

If Hoyer were in danger of losing an election, I'm sure he would be on that gazeebo touting how he bought us a new bridge.