Yesterday, January 18, 2018, was the first day of public comment on
the new Maryland Transportation (MDTA) Authority's Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge. The new Nice Bridge, also known locally as the Potomac
River Bridge or the 301 Bridge, will span the Potomac River between
Charles County, Maryland and King George County, Virginia.
The current bridge was built between 1938 and 1940 and has served as a major Potomac River crossing in the region ever since. It currently entertains over 17,000 cars a day, is 1.7 miles long, costs $6 to cross, and only two lanes wide. For comparison, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge spans the Susquehanna River, was built between 1939 and 1940, is 1.3 miles long, has four lanes, costs $8 to cross, and carries over 30,000 cars a day.
The replacement Nice Bridge does not have a final design yet but based on MDTA's request, it will be four lanes and either one or two spans. Their presentation on the New Nice Bridge website also states that existing traffic will have minimal disruptions between the ground-breaking in 2020 and the expected completion in 2023.
The presentation by MDTA brought about a few interesting points.
1. They made it clear that the height would remain about the same to allow tall ship events to continue in Alexandria.
2. The travel channel for water vessels would shift to the west due to a change in grade of the road surface.
3. Cash would no longer be accepted for tolls.
4. Cyclists would be allowed to travel on the new bridge like they do on the Hatem Bridge.
As for the public comment section, you have until February 20, 2018 to give feedback. But there is only one box to supply public comment so think carefully before you click submit. Here's what you'll see in the two-question survey:
The current bridge was built between 1938 and 1940 and has served as a major Potomac River crossing in the region ever since. It currently entertains over 17,000 cars a day, is 1.7 miles long, costs $6 to cross, and only two lanes wide. For comparison, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge spans the Susquehanna River, was built between 1939 and 1940, is 1.3 miles long, has four lanes, costs $8 to cross, and carries over 30,000 cars a day.
The replacement Nice Bridge does not have a final design yet but based on MDTA's request, it will be four lanes and either one or two spans. Their presentation on the New Nice Bridge website also states that existing traffic will have minimal disruptions between the ground-breaking in 2020 and the expected completion in 2023.
The presentation by MDTA brought about a few interesting points.
1. They made it clear that the height would remain about the same to allow tall ship events to continue in Alexandria.
2. The travel channel for water vessels would shift to the west due to a change in grade of the road surface.
3. Cash would no longer be accepted for tolls.
4. Cyclists would be allowed to travel on the new bridge like they do on the Hatem Bridge.
As for the public comment section, you have until February 20, 2018 to give feedback. But there is only one box to supply public comment so think carefully before you click submit. Here's what you'll see in the two-question survey:
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