News:

Thank you for your patience during the Forum downtime while we upgraded the software. Welcome back and see this thread for some new features and other changes to the forum.

Main Menu

U.S. 301 Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge

Started by cpzilliacus, December 20, 2012, 10:08:22 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

jmacswimmer

MDTA posted a short video on their twitter showing, among other things, early mobilization efforts by the contractor:

https://twitter.com/TheMDTA/status/1288444160052203522
"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"


Plutonic Panda

Update on this project from a very good publication BTW

QuoteChesapeake Bay Magazine reported May 3 that a new six-knot speed limit is now being enforced for a half-nautical mile north and south of the new bridge, designed to connect southern Maryland and northeastern Virginia. It is methodically being built close to the existing bridge linking Charles County, Md., and King George County, Va.

Maryland transportation officials told the magazine that calm river waters are essential to keeping construction workers safe and operations on track.

In mid-February, construction crews began lifting and placing massive footing forms to build the new bridge's foundations. Weighing as much as 195 tons, the forms measure 30 ft. wide and up to 52 ft. long, according to engineers with the MDTA.

Read more here: https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/marylands-nice-middleton-bridge-project-reaches-sensitive-work-stage/52081

jmacswimmer

"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

74/171FAN

I drove through this project yesterday, and the construction of the bridge is flying certainly on the northern portion of the bridge.
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

jmacswimmer

Streetview on US 301 in the area has been updated with imagery from November, showing substantial progress as well.  Here's one example.
"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

BrianP

Federal funding for Nice/Middleton Bridge in "˜jeopardy'
QuoteA federal loan that Maryland was counting on to finance construction of the new Nice/Middleton Bridge is in "significant jeopardy,"  a top Maryland Transportation Authority
official said on Tuesday.
QuoteGarman said the holdup with the loan is related to bike and pedestrian safety concerns.

"They showed us one of our press releases when our board decided to not build a separate lane for pedestrians and bicycles,"  he said.
The loan, through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, was slated to cover about a third of the cost of the new span.

NJRoadfan

Weren't the pedestrian and bike lane concerns brought up on this very thread? MdTA could have done this job correctly, but chose not to.

DJStephens

Sounds like a final Pete Rahn bungle/screw up before his retirement. 

seicer

Quote from: NJRoadfan on December 10, 2021, 03:05:10 PM
Weren't the pedestrian and bike lane concerns brought up on this very thread? MdTA could have done this job correctly, but chose not to.

""We are providing cycling accommodations on the Nice/Middleton Bridge,"  he said. "We've made considerable investments to that end." "

That's bull****. What investments? Joints where tires don't get stuck in? Commonplace. "Intelligent" signage? What, "Share the Road" signs that light up?

sprjus4

^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.

vdeane

Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

ixnay

#261
Will the Nice and Middleton names be transferred to the new bridge, or will a new name go on the new bridge?

If the former is true, I can envision a sign the MdTA can erect (at least on the Maryland approach where something doesn't have to be worked out with VA) ...

"A NICE-er BRIDGE IS COMING, MAC!"   :) :-/

Merry Christmas.
The Washington/Baltimore/Arlington CSA has two Key Bridges, a Minnesota Avenue, and a Mannasota Avenue.

bluecountry

Quote from: vdeane on December 13, 2021, 12:58:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.

Why?  It's got 4 lanes, shoulders, and bike accommodations.

sprjus4

Quote from: bluecountry on December 25, 2021, 08:04:38 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 13, 2021, 12:58:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.
Why?  It's got 4 lanes, shoulders, and bike accommodations.
What? A 2 ft shoulder is hardly anything of modern design, which would call for a minimum of 10 ft.

And there's zero bicycle or pedestrian accommodations, a modern design would call for a barrier separated path from traffic.

The bridge will function effectively as a 65-70 mph freeway, it should be built as such.

vdeane

Quote from: bluecountry on December 25, 2021, 08:04:38 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 13, 2021, 12:58:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.

Why?  It's got 4 lanes, shoulders, and bike accommodations.
1. Lots of things built in the 40s or 50s had 4 lanes.
2. A 2' shoulder hardly qualifies.
3. The "bike accommodations" are a joke.  Glorified sharrows on a 55 mph road?  What were they thinking?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

seicer

Quote from: bluecountry on December 25, 2021, 08:04:38 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 13, 2021, 12:58:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.

Why?  It's got 4 lanes, shoulders, and bike accommodations.

Four lanes (12') but 2' shoulders when modern design standards call for at least 4', but realistically, 10' would be better for a span of this length. Heaven forbid anyone break down - and then have to wait outside their vehicle on the narrow 2' shoulder.

And I love that they ask you call before crossing the bridge, yet their map shows it being prohibited. I wonder if their official maps will be updated to reflect the status change or if it will be status-quo. But as having crossed other bridges in Maryland with similar "accommodations" - the Harve De Grace Bridge being a similar example, it can be harrowing and death-defying with no alternatives around. The fact that they requested federal funds on the basis of providing shoulders/bike paths and then building something without it to save money is coming back to bite them.

epzik8

Quote from: seicer on December 25, 2021, 10:23:32 PM
Quote from: bluecountry on December 25, 2021, 08:04:38 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 13, 2021, 12:58:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on December 13, 2021, 09:44:49 AM
^ They didn't even provide more than a 2 foot shoulder. There's a lot of design flaws in the bridge, including bicycle / pedestrian accommodation along with basic safety features.
It feels a lot more like a bridge from the 1940s or 1950s than something that would be built today.

Why?  It's got 4 lanes, shoulders, and bike accommodations.

Four lanes (12') but 2' shoulders when modern design standards call for at least 4', but realistically, 10' would be better for a span of this length. Heaven forbid anyone break down - and then have to wait outside their vehicle on the narrow 2' shoulder.

And I love that they ask you call before crossing the bridge, yet their map shows it being prohibited. I wonder if their official maps will be updated to reflect the status change or if it will be status-quo. But as having crossed other bridges in Maryland with similar "accommodations" - the Harve De Grace Bridge being a similar example, it can be harrowing and death-defying with no alternatives around. The fact that they requested federal funds on the basis of providing shoulders/bike paths and then building something without it to save money is coming back to bite them.
I love the Havre de Grace Bridge. I live just a few miles from that bridge.
From the land of red, white, yellow and black.
____________________________

My clinched highways: http://tm.teresco.org/user/?u=epzik8
My clinched counties: http://mob-rule.com/user-gifs/USA/epzik8.gif

seicer

I wonder if the outcome of this will be that the bridge operator will be required to provide transport/shuttle for cyclists and pedestrians.

chrisdiaz

Throughout the day today I had been continually checking google maps traffic conditions at the bridge. At one point, there was a 5 mile long dark red traffic jam on the Virginia side heading north, presumably in an attempt to avoid the mess that was I-95. I'm glad that the new bridge is adding lanes because there needs to be more redundancy in Potomac River crossings outside the DC metro.

RoadPelican

Quote from: chrisdiaz on January 05, 2022, 01:49:41 AM
Throughout the day today I had been continually checking google maps traffic conditions at the bridge. At one point, there was a 5 mile long dark red traffic jam on the Virginia side heading north, presumably in an attempt to avoid the mess that was I-95. I'm glad that the new bridge is adding lanes because there needs to be more redundancy in Potomac River crossings outside the DC metro.

I remember about 15 years ago I was traveling north on I-95 on a Sunday afternoon in the Summer (big mistake!).  I got into congestion somewhere between Richmond and Fredericksburg on I-95 so I took VA Route 3 to US 301 and thought I had effectively bypassed the congestion but then I got into backup on US 301 right before the Potomac River (4 lanes merge into 2).  It was pretty long at least 2 miles, but 5 is pretty bad in the winter.  It shows you how much Northern VA and Southern MD has grown in 15 years.  A US 301 freeway upgrade would be GREAT!  But at least they are addressing that merge bottleneck.

jmacswimmer

Some photos I took yesterday morning at the Nice Bridge - looks mostly the same as the Nov/Dec 2021 streetview, but one major difference is the new toll gantry is now installed (but not active yet).






"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

Alex

Quote from: jmacswimmer on February 07, 2022, 09:31:49 AM
Some photos I took yesterday morning at the Nice Bridge - looks mostly the same as the Nov/Dec 2021 streetview, but one major difference is the new toll gantry is now installed (but not active yet).

Thanks for posting the update.

Would rather see your photos then defaulting to GSV and mindlessly panning around.  :thumbsup:

ixnay

Any target date for the activation of the toll arch?
The Washington/Baltimore/Arlington CSA has two Key Bridges, a Minnesota Avenue, and a Mannasota Avenue.

jmacswimmer

Quote from: ixnay on February 08, 2022, 07:32:46 AM
Any target date for the activation of the toll arch?

IIRC "Spring 2022" has been referenced in previous MDTA press releases & tweets, but I haven't seen anything more specific than that.

With the way toll lane 4 was closed off with barrels & a crash attenuator, I wonder if they'll begin removing that booth soon (presumably in order to then route traffic thru there once the gantry is activated).
"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"

jmacswimmer

"Now, what if da Bearss were to enter the Indianapolis 5-hunnert?"
"How would they compete?"
"Let's say they rode together in a big buss."
"Is Ditka driving?"
"Of course!"
"Then I like da Bear buss."
"DA BEARSSS BUSSSS"



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.