Driving directions. According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, traffic was held in both directions while emergency crews accessed the span to aid and transport the injured. It just doesnt make sense in this day and age to build a bridge without dedicated space for cyclists and pedestrians, said Bill Niedringhaus, president of the Potomac Heritage Trail Association. Bringing US 301 across the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, the bridge is 135 feet above the water and has a very steep grade to and from the top. Note: Additional traffic holds may be needed throughout the project for deliveries, movement of equipment, and other maintenance requirements. Since its opening, the structure's use has changed dramatically with the bridge carrying . Approval by the council was one of the final steps in securing the loan, but federal officials wanted to wait pending further discussions with project sponsor regarding pedestrian safety questions, according to the agenda. The New Nice Middleton Bridge Project will replace the Governor Harry W Nice Memorial / Senator Thomas Mac Middleton Bridge across the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia in the US. Yuck. Maryland is now only promising though that bikes will be able to use the bridge in some way even if it means riding with highway traffic. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Federal transportation officials stalled on approving Marylands loan application last summer to replace a Potomac River bridge crossing, using a six-month delay to raise questions about bike lanes on another section of the highway. Potomac River Bridge Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge Approximate latitude, longitude +38.36251, -76.99060 (decimal degrees) 3821'45" N, 7659'26" W (degreesminutes'seconds") Approximate UTM coordinates 18/326085/4247913 (zone/easting/northing) Quadrangle map: Dahlgren Average daily traffic (as of 2017) 17,933 Inventory number Financing for New Nice Middleton Bridge Project In 2016, the state of Maryland authorised $760m in funding for the project. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. The . If you want to get a good picture of the bridge, you'll have to do it from the Maryland side as the Virginia side has no waterside stopping. In their court filing, Maryland officials stress that the bridge replacement has been over a decade in the making and that the authority has worked with environmental agencies, as well as the public, every step of the way. On Friday, the day after the court hearing, invitations to a ribbon-cutting ceremony were emailed to various government officials, including those in King George County. The bridge was already under construction without the path, and Maryland refused to consider alterations to the plans. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. It is one of the biggest transportation initiatives taken by the state of Maryland and will benefit southern Maryland and north-eastern Virginia.. Harry Nice Bridge now OPEN, crash clean up on #CharlesCo side #MdTraffic #VaTraffic #DCTraffic. Today, the Bourne Bridge is now reaches 135 feet above sea level and spans a length of 616 feet. UPDATE At least one injured in crash on bridge. There was a problem saving your notification. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. There is zero need to start the demolition, other than spite, he emailed. Based on some conversations here in California, I think we might need [to] get a put our foot down letter drafted, Slater wrote in an email. Larry Hogan (R) announced a plan in 2016 to replace it with a new crossing that would carry four lanes of traffic and include a separated bike and pedestrian path. I travel this bridge on a daily basis, and I can not wait until the new on is built. This public meeting is livestreamed and archived on theFinance Committee Meeting Homepage. The agency had already spent $1 million on the application process, Ports wrote, and failure to close the loan would mean that public funds would be wasted.. On the lock screen of your iPhone or iPad, swipe left to right until you see a list of widgets. Brenner was appointed by Hogan to an advisory committee on the plan to include a bike and pedestrian path, separated by a barrier, on the new 1.7 mile span. 6 axles cost $45 for the toll! 7201 Corporate Center Drive It still states the bridge is due to open early next year. You have permission to edit this article. Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. MDOT Headquarters (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). This entry was posted on September 12, 2017 at 9:56 am and is filed under All News, Charles News, Community, County, More News, z 600X120 Top Ad Bottom, z 600X120 Top Ad Top. With the initial model finished in 1911, the bridge was originally 41 feet above sea level, enabling only small vessels to pass under it without opening the draw. The third of three Public Hearingswill be held March 6, 2023, from 5:30-8:00 PM to receive public and private testimony about the proposed toll rate ranges. Calls must be made one hour prior to arrival at the bridge and will only be accepted between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. I avoid this bridge if possible. Thomas Mac Middleton Bridge after getting a key approval Wednesday from the regions Transportation Planning Board. The new Nice/Middleton bridge over the Potomac River between King George County and Maryland is scheduled to open Wednesday, but there hasnt been the first public announcement about it. Instead, the Transportation Department subjected the application to months of scrutiny, making what Allen Garman, the Maryland authoritys director of treasury and debt, called in an email obtained by The Post seemingly unprecedented demands for unrelated bicycle projects., Garman briefed the authoritys finance committee about the application in December, saying federal officials initially wanted guarantees about an unrelated project on Interstate 95, then requested the state install bike and pedestrian lanes on another stretch of highway. But the bulk of federal highway money is passed to states with few conditions on how it is spent. SoMDC covers every aspect of the SoMD Region and will continue to grow with the community. Construction of the new bridge will begin in 2020 and is expected to be completed by 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. This information is updated periodically and includes the type & descriptionof the work being done, contract number, location, start date, and expected finish date. The Nice-Middleton Bridge, named for former Gov. You can cancel at any time. The Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (U.S. Route 301) across the Potomac River will be reduced to one lane with flagging operations alternating northbound and southbound traffic during the . Understand the MBE/VSBE/DBE Programs and your role as a prime or subcontractor. The crash, which occurred around 2 p.m. snarled traffic in both directions for well over an hour. The decision came as a disappointment to Maryland bike advocates, who viewed the bridge as a key link in what they envision as a 50-mile network spanning Maryland and Virginia. Maryland officials said it was that decision that appeared to bring additional federal scrutiny. US 301 Maryland Traffic in Real Time >> US Route 301 >> Maryland >> Traffic Current US 301 Maryland Traffic Conditions Live Reports by @mdsha UPDATE: Queen Anne's County; Crash; US 301 North Past MD 290; all lanes closed #MDTraffic soc 5 hours ago ALERT: Queen Anne's County; Crash; US 301 North Past MD 290; right lane closed #MDTraffic soc Feb 25, 2017. Hanover, Maryland 21076 The project is scheduled to widen the bridge from one highway lane each way today to two lanes each way on a new bridge that will be steeper than the current one. Crews are now working on demolishing and removing the old bridge - a process that will carry into 2024. SoMDC appreciates all feedback from the community, along with tips, pictures, articles contributed, and support. Construction started in July 2020 and has been completed several months ahead of schedule. Drivers of vehicles exceeding the width restriction must call 301-259-4444 to obtain approval and schedule an escort. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Advocates for the bike path are exploring ways to keep the original bridge as a dedicated bike and pedestrian crossing. The project will generate more than 500 jobs. Learn about resources to assist in growing and strengthening your business. Road Closed. 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) #mdtraffic #MDShorebound MDTA (@TheMDTA) June 11, 2021 Here's how to check on traffic and delays: Call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) for 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic conditions. Police closed the. I have been travelling over the Nice Bridge since the 1960's as a kid going on vacation with my family to North Carolina and still today enjoy crossing it for our vacations and all the memories. 555 Joppa Farm Rd. The Charles County Department of Emergency Services would like to notify citizens that the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge on Route 301 in Charles County is closed to traffic due to an accident. This feature is available on your iPhone or iPad on iOS 11 and above. Get traffic information in the Today view. Instead, the news came out last week in court, when representatives from the Maryland Transportation Authority and several biking and walking groups had a preliminary hearing in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Larry Hogan will lead the first cars over the bridge, according to the invitation. With no reduction in capacity, the shifts are anticipated to have minimal traffic impacts, though shoulders will be temporarily unavailable within this segment of US 301. The Maryland Transportation Authority, which operates toll roads and bridges, had already been working with federal authorities for more than a year when the state formally applied for the loan last summer to help replace the 80-year-old bridge. Joppatowne, MD 21085. Charles County Citizens may call a designated non-emergency telephone number, 301-609-3435, Slater, now the head of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority in Florida, declined through a spokeswoman to comment on the Maryland project. Traffic Cameras; Law Enforcement. In the event of inclement weather, work may occur the weekend of Oct. 13. Eric Brenner, a Maryland man whos been tracking bridge activities for years, said transportation officials wouldnt have admitted the dates at all if the judge hadnt asked the direct question. The tall, narrow, two-lane bridge that's often likened to a roller coaster is a 77-year-old bottleneck to traffic using U.S. 301 to travel between Charles County, Maryland and King George County . Trucks larger than 10-feet wide will not be permitted to cross the bridge during flagging operations. Individuals who wish to participate and who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or who require translation services (free of charge), should contact the Title VI Office at mdtaeeo@mdta.maryland.gov or 410-537-5660 (711 for Maryland Relay) no later than three (3) business days before the date of the meeting they wish to attend. Collision on Nice Bridge halts traffic, injuries reported. 1. prfans The Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority promised to continue to look at the possibility of adding the bike path back into the plan, but would not promise anything. UPDATE Friday, Nov. 6 2:30 p.m. The 1.7-mile-long, 77-year-old bridge will now also bear the name of . When pressed by the judge on Thursday on the timeframe, state officials said the new bridge is ready to open to traffic on Oct. 12, 2022, and that demolition of the Nice Bridge would begin in earnest the next day, according to court documents. It's formally called the Harry W. Nice Memorial/Sen. The steel truss span of the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge and the smoke stacks of the Morgantown Generating Station have dominated the skyline ov, County had wanted to turn the home, received in exchange for land lost to the new Nice bridge, into a museum, but it's cost prohibitive at the. But Maryland transportation officials refused to alter their plans, according to the documents obtained under the Maryland Public Information Act. The work is part of the Maryland Transportation Authoritys (MDTA) project to build a new US 301 bridge to replace the 80-year-old Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas Mac Middleton Bridge over the Potomac River. . The bridge will have 24/7 continuous flagging operations from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday each weekend. I got to experience it going north and south between NC and Baltimore this past week. Garman told board members that, in his view, the federal money was in jeopardy.. In February, it was put back on the federal committees agenda and the loan was closed in late April. Harry W. Nice and former state Sen. Thomas "Mac" Middleton, carries Route 301 traffic over the Potomac River between Newburg, Md., and King George County, Va. Maryland added Middleton's name to the bridge after he sponsored legislation requiring that a replacement be built. Read More. Fast, informative and written just for locals. The infrastructure package handed the Department of Transportation new discretionary grant programs and increased the size of other programs, which the administration has tied to goals like combating climate change and promoting racial justice. Alert: Harry Nice Bridge Closure Effective immediately, The Harry W. Nice Bridge in Newburg is closed. They are trying to cover their dirty tracks just as quickly as they can, he said, leaving no option for consideration of allowing bicycling and pedestrian access on the existing bridge.. Those documents were filed on Saturday, on the Maryland agencys behalf, by the U.S. Department of Transportation in its opposition to the temporary restraining order. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Hammersmith Bridge is a suspension bridge that was opened, in its current incarnation, in 1887. Bay Bridge Update: US 50 EB delays now at 10 miles. The MDTA is reporting that traffic is alternating lanes at this time while emergency crews tend to the victims and crash debris. Who thought of building a bridge so narrow, one way on, one way off! Construction could start next year and be completed by the mid-2020s. The new bridge opened to traffic on October 12, 2022. Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge: Scary bridge, horrible traffic - See 23 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Newburg, MD, at Tripadvisor. Learn about resources to assist in growing and strengthening your business. A $400-million-plus contract has just been approved to build a new bridge to replace the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge. It is extremely steep and I had to close my eyes while my spouse drove. The law gives federal officials little say in how projects are designed generally requiring them to approve loans to creditworthy applicants but Marylands application was pulled from the agenda of the Transportation Departments Council on Credit and Finance in August. (Courtesy Maryland Transportation Authority) The New Nice Middleton Bridge is expected to be completed by 2023. Credit: Skanksa. The Governor Harry W Nice Memorial / Senator Thomas Mac Middleton Bridge was built in 1940. 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224 There hasnt been a public announcement, but Maryland plans to open the new Nice/Middleton bridge over the Potomac River on Wednesday and start demolition of the old bridge Thursday. In 2016, the state of Maryland authorised $760m in funding for the project.