October 16th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says he is “furious” about severe traffic gridlock caused by a two-year repair project on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but that delaying the work could lead to “catastrophic” and potentially life-threatening safety risks.
Speaking at a Maryland Board of Public Works meeting Wednesday several weeks after the $27 million project began, Hogan said there is nothing state officials can do to make the sometimes miles-long traffic backups “magically disappear.”
But he promised urgent action to ease some of the problems and to speed up the project, which include:
- Ordering contractors to work on the bridge re-decking project 24 hours a day.
- Eliminating all tolls booths and moving to fully electronic tolling at the bridge “as soon as possible.”
- Considering the use of faster-drying concrete to speed up the project.
- Tasking state troopers to help improve the flow of traffic.
