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Top Maryland Transportation Authority leaders have signaled that they intend to tear down the current Nice/Middleton Bridge in Charles County as soon as the replacement span opens to traffic.
That demolition will come over the objections of Maryland鈥檚 two U.S. senators and U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D).
Hoyer and Sens. Ben Cardin (D) and Chris Van Hollen (D) asked Transportation Secretary Jim Ports in July to delay action long enough to allow for an 鈥渋ndependent鈥� study of the possible re-use of the span for recreational activities.
鈥淲ith the work on the new Harry W. Nice/Thomas 鈥淢ac鈥� Middleton Bridge across the Potomac River proceeding rapidly, we urge the State to reconsider plans to demolish the old bridge, and halt any immediate efforts to do so,鈥� the lawmakers said in a letter.
鈥淭hese plans should not proceed until a study can be conducted on the feasibility as well as the financial and environmental costs and benefits of converting the old bridge to a non-motorized trail that could be used by pedestrians and bicyclists.鈥�
Bicycling advocates have urged the state for years not to demolish the existing span. When Gov. Larry Hogan (R) unveiled plans to build a replacement bridge, he pledged that the new one would have separate bike and pedestrian lanes. Those plans were later dropped in a cost-cutting move.
During a lengthy discussion at the July meeting of the authority鈥檚 board of directors, Ports and Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Will Pines said the state offered the bridge to Charles County free of charge in 2019, but the county declined the offer. He said King George County, Va., and the Commonwealth of Virginia both studied the idea of taking possession of the current bridge, but they weren鈥檛 interested either.
In his response to the three federal lawmakers, Ports pointed to an analysis that found it would cost nearly $50 million to maintain the 80-year-old bridge for recreational use over the next 30 years. He also said a change in the authority鈥檚 plans would require permit modifications. Maryland intends to sink pieces of the existing span 鈥渇or artificial reef habitat enhancement,鈥� he wrote.
鈥淲e鈥檙e creating acres of artificial reef that will provide habitat for oysters, fish, et cetera,鈥� Pines told the board. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 an enormous benefit to the [Chesapeake] Bay.鈥�
Pines noted that the lawmakers鈥� letter included no suggestions for how to fund the study, nor did they identify any organizations willing to take ownership of the bridge if Maryland decides to leave it standing. He also said that keeping the original span in place could lead to sediment buildup on the supports of the new bridge, due to 鈥渟couring.鈥�
In their letter to Ports, the lawmakers noted that Maryland is poised to spend between $15 million and $23 million to demolish the original span, money that would be saved if existing plans were set aside.
During the public testimony period, Eric Brenner, the former head of the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, accused the MdTA board of rushing to get the demolition process to a point where the state鈥檚 next governor can鈥檛 reverse it.
He praised the lawmakers for suggesting that Maryland 鈥渨ait on the demolition until you can get somebody with experience in the repurposing of bridges for recreational use,鈥� he said. 鈥淢dTA does a lot of great things. This isn鈥檛 one of them.鈥�
鈥淚 know MdTA really likes operating out here on your own island,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not too late to try something different.鈥�
Pines told the board that the authority has already begun 鈥渟ome demolition activities on portions of the existing bridge,鈥� even as it continues to carry traffic. 鈥淭his work started prior to receiving the congressional delegation鈥檚 letter,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been limited to areas where it does not impact the maintenance of traffic鈥︹��
The new bridge is expected to open in early 2023.
The state鈥� current permit allows for the existing bridge to be dismantled, but Pines told the board that blowing up the old span would save money, though it would require the authority to navigate a complex environmental review. 鈥淎s you can imagine, if you take something apart piece by piece, it鈥檚 more expensive than instantaneously dropping it,鈥� he said.
Brenner said the agency appears determined to punt that decision to the next governor.
