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[roadman65]

https://www.somdnews.com/news/local/cardin-says-thomas-johnson-bridge-needs-to-be-replaced/article_85020ce3-9cff-5eb9-9b23-83ab849a16b1.html

Found this article from last March, facing the need for replacement of the functionally obsolete 45 year old bridge carrying MD 4 across the Patuxtent River between St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in Southern Maryland.

I thought it’s interesting as the bridge not only is obsolete for the traffic that uses it, but it was built with flaws such as lack of shoulders and narrow lanes, plus it’s 1988 closing for structural repairs don’t say a lot to it’s status either.

[epzik8]

https://www.somdnews.com/news/local/cardin-says-thomas-johnson-bridge-needs-to-be-replaced/article_85020ce3-9cff-5eb9-9b23-83ab849a16b1.html

Found this article from last March, facing the need for replacement of the functionally obsolete 45 year old bridge carrying MD 4 across the Patuxtent River between St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in Southern Maryland.

I thought it’s interesting as the bridge not only is obsolete for the traffic that uses it, but it was built with flaws such as lack of shoulders and narrow lanes, plus it’s 1988 closing for structural repairs don’t say a lot to it’s status either.

My guess is a four-lane replacement, like the Nice Bridge, assuming it's in the DOT's budget.

[N737ER]

There were plans I've seen for this project which include four lane-ing the crossing and Rte 4 down to Rte 235. I can't remember if it they were to 1) Build a replacement 4-lane span or 2) Build a parallel 2-lane span then rehab the existing bridge. Current MDOT site for this project (which doesn't seem to have been updated): https://mdot-sha-md4-md2-to-md235-tj-brg-sm3515370-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/

As far as four lane-ing to 235, what I remember is the ROW mostly already exists with minimal land acquisition required for this South/West of the base of the bridge. I'm not sure if it's related or separate, but there were also drawings for grade separating the 4/235 intersection.

I believe it was the old Maryland project site (I got the link from this site, and I had to go looking for these projects) but I remember seeing detailed drawings for the TJ Bridge/Rte 4 Calvert to Rte 235, and 3 or 4 options for the MD4/Suitland Parkway interchange.

[cpzilliacus]

https://www.somdnews.com/news/local/cardin-says-thomas-johnson-bridge-needs-to-be-replaced/article_85020ce3-9cff-5eb9-9b23-83ab849a16b1.html

Found this article from last March, facing the need for replacement of the functionally obsolete 45 year old bridge carrying MD 4 across the Patuxtent River between St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in Southern Maryland.

I thought it’s interesting as the bridge not only is obsolete for the traffic that uses it, but it was built with flaws such as lack of shoulders and narrow lanes, plus it’s 1988 closing for structural repairs don’t say a lot to it’s status either.

My guess is a four-lane replacement, like the Nice Bridge, assuming it's in the DOT's budget.

If it is like the replacement Nice Middleton Bridge, then it will be an MDTA project.  I have heard (informally) that there have been discussions about turning it over to MDTA to run as a toll crossing.  Fun fact - the MD-231 crossing of the Patuxent River at Benedict was toll crossing when it was built - but it was de-tolled many years ago in the 1950's.

[cpzilliacus]

https://www.somdnews.com/news/local/cardin-says-thomas-johnson-bridge-needs-to-be-replaced/article_85020ce3-9cff-5eb9-9b23-83ab849a16b1.html

Found this article from last March, facing the need for replacement of the functionally obsolete 45 year old bridge carrying MD 4 across the Patuxtent River between St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in Southern Maryland.

I thought it’s interesting as the bridge not only is obsolete for the traffic that uses it, but it was built with flaws such as lack of shoulders and narrow lanes, plus it’s 1988 closing for structural repairs don’t say a lot to it’s status either.

BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) was not a thing when this bridge was designed and built.  Thanks to BRAC, there are many more jobs at Naval Air Station Patuxent River and many of its employees live in southern Calvert County, which means crossing this bridge - or taking a very long detour by way of MD-4, MD-231, MD-5 and MD-235.

Yes, there were structural problems with the pier caps that resulted in an emergency closure of the bridge in the 1980's.