That is a horrible article for ENR and really lowers my esteem for them. There are no technical details as to how any possible measures could alleviate congestion, and that's basically the entire article right there. Am I missing something?
I agree.
And it bothers me that there may be changes to the engineering specifications in order to get the job done quicker. That, IMO, is a bad idea- and your thoughts on that are appreciated.
The only measures that the state can take have to do with management of the crossing, and maybe with getting some people to alter the times that they use it.
My suggestions (personal opinions only):
0.
Do not delay this work for any reason.
1. Convert to cashless
two-
way tolling (when this project is complete, MDTA can look at a return to one-way toll collection).
2. Charge higher tolls during hours when congestion is especially severe. Not to minimize traffic, not to maximize revenue, but to maximize vehicular throughput.
3. Add more freeway service patrols along both approaches to point at least ten miles distant from the bridge.
4. Deploy State Police and MDTA Police to deal rapidly with incidents that may happen.
4. Solicit bids from private bus operators to initiate free express bus service running from places like Wye Oak, Queenstown, Kent Narrows and Stevensville on the Eastern Shore to: downtown Annapolis and along the MD-450 (West Street) corridor, downtown Baltimore City, Glen Burnie, downtown Washington, D.C. and New Carrollton. Make the existing bus service to Kent Island free for the duration of the project. Allow buses to approach the bridge by using the shoulders (with appropriate signs).