A recent analysis has revealed that the spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland do not meet contemporary risk thresholds for vessel strikes. This finding prompted Maryland officials to respond to a critical report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. In light of the report, the Maryland Department of Transportation has pledged to act upon the risk assessment to safeguard the Bay Bridge from potential ship strikes.
The safety recommendation from the NTSB emerged from an extensive investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, an incident which tragically resulted in the deaths of six construction workers. Although the Maryland Department of Transportation did not specify the details of the recent assessment, they have acknowledged the necessity to address the vulnerabilities outlined by the board.
Last month, the NTSB highlighted that the Maryland Transportation Authority had not conducted the industry-standard risk assessment that might have identified the Key Bridge’s susceptibility to a catastrophic ship strike. Subsequently, the board urged owners of 68 bridges nationwide, including the Bay Bridge, to perform these modern evaluations.
In response, Maryland initiated a $160 million project following the Key Bridge collapse to enhance the Bay Bridge’s protection. Under an existing contract, the state allocated $600,000 to the consulting firm Moffatt & Nichol to undertake a study phase centered on maritime infrastructure.
While emphasizing their lack of legal obligation, state officials asserted that the Bay Bridge has consistently been deemed safe in annual inspections over the past three decades. They noted that the current design and condition of the bridge are compliant with federal permits, suggesting no immediate requirement for modification.
Nevertheless, the transportation department is exploring short-term measures to protect the bridge, such as improving communication protocols for vessel pilots, reducing vessel speeds, implementing one-way transits, and managing vehicular traffic. Additionally, long-term strategies could include physical protection installations like dolphins and pier fenders to absorb potential impacts.
The project is expected to progress to its design phase during the summer, though the timeline and procurement details are still under consideration.
The risk assessment adhered to standards established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials following the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Florida in 1980. While these standards became mandatory for new bridges by the mid-1990s, older bridges like the Key Bridge and Bay Bridge have not been subjected to this evaluation until now. Maryland, however, has conducted terrorism-focused assessments relating to potential vessel strikes on bridges since the 9/11 attacks.