Posted on November 9, 2026
By Amber Anderson
Maryland is getting a new Bay Bridge. The state received final federal environmental approval for two new four-lane bridges on Thursday.
The approved crossing will add $23 billion to the local economy and create more than 60,000 jobs.
“Completion of the monumental Bay Crossing Study delivers a roadmap to the future and gives Maryland a critical approval for the next step of this project,” said Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary and MDTA Chair Katie Thomson.
Design of the bridge is expected to start in 2028, with construction expected to start as soon as 2032.
The selected alternative includes:
- Two new four-lane bridge spans with full shoulders across the Chesapeake Bay, providing additional transportation capacity, reliability and mobility while enhancing safety;
- Removal of the existing Bay Bridge spans, addressing existing roadway deficiencies including narrow lanes and lack of shoulders, eliminating the need for major rehabilitation projects and associated lane closures and delays;
- Improved navigational clearance to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The navigational clearance will be 230 feet, which is the same as the new Francis Scott Key Bridge, allowing larger ships to access the Port of Baltimore;
- Widening of US 50/301 to eight lanes (four per direction) from west of Oceanic Drive to east of Cox Creek to accommodate transitions to the new bridge spans;
- Financial commitment for transit-related improvements, with a proposed one-time investment of up to $40 million;
- An optional bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path, based on a future financial analysis performed by MDTA to determine whether implementation of a shared-use path will be feasible; and
- A commitment for land preservation on the Eastern Shore.
The new spans will also have more clearance underneath to allow larger ships to pass through.
