https://bit.ly/MDOTSHA-US50-Kent-Island-TMS
On WB US-50 approaching the Bay Bridge, MDoT trying a ramp management plan similar to what’s been in effect eastbound for a few months. Serious backtracking required for locals the next few weekends.
I understand why SHA is piloting this, but I would be having a fit if I lived anywhere along MD-8, for example. Not sure why they would want to screw over the locals like that.
Unfortunately things have reached the point where locals on both sides of the bridge are screwed either way. The side roads off US 50 on either side of the bridge get just as congested as the mainline due to traffic attempting to sidestep congestion up to the final onramp before the bridge. This has been a known problem for years based off these unique "
BAY BRIDGE BOUND" signs
along US 50 & US 301, but I believe these recent pilots were the result of enough complaints from locals about bailout traffic clogging up the local streets combined with emergency response concerns on Kent Island in particular.
It certainly isn't an ideal solution, but it's about the only way to keep the local streets 100% clear of bailout traffic. It'll be interesting to see what SHA concludes from these pilots and if they decide to implement anything permanently for next summer. I attempted to peek at Google traffic along eastbound US 50 a couple times when exits 30 & 32 were closed, and it seemed like traffic would alternate between light red & orange along this stretch rather than the dark red it would likely have been otherwise. If anything, it seemed like the primary bottleneck was pushed back to the MD 2 interchange at exit 27.
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Topic: Maryland (Read 206900 times)