Add on a couple of disabled vehicles that cause temporary lane closures (like the ones we had on Memorial Day at 3:30 p.m. and 4:48 p.m.) and the backup continues to grow with the decreased capacity of only two available lanes.
Add on an accident (like the one we had at 7:07 p.m.) that decreases capacity due to a temporary lane closure to clear the incident and the result is a significant backup.
By the time motorists actually reach the Bay Bridge, there may not be evidence of a crash or disabled vehicle because they've been cleared.
Because of the residual effect these drivers are dealt, it causes them to wonder, "Why the backup?" The message here is that a minor fender bender or a vehicle that becomes disabled can be a major contributor to Bay Bridge delays.
We encourage motorists to travel off-peak! Visit baybridge.com for the best times to travel, and call 1-877-BAYSPAN (229-7726) for 24/7 traffic conditions at the Bay Bridge.
COMMENT: There is one other possibility travelers should consider: avoiding the Bay Bridge entirely.
Before the original span of the bridge opened in 1952, there was only one land route from the Baltimore region to Ocean City: around the head of the bay via Elkton. With the road improvements made over the past 60 years, that route is more viable than ever.
All things being equal, the Bay Bridge crossing is the faster route for most of the Baltimore region - unless the bridge is having one of its periodic breakdowns. But Tilghman, who spent about an hour sitting in traffic, might have done better heading north.
From Tilghman's home in Catonsville to a generic Ocean City address takes 3 hours, 1 minute via the Bay Bridge, sayeth Google. To go via U.S. 40 in Elkton takes 3 hours, 44 minutes. (Google will plot you an allegedly faster route through the Delaware Toll Plaza, but this column recommends avoiding it. Using the intersection of U.S. 40 and Automotive Lane in Elkton in your search will cut out a four-minute jog into downtown and bypass Delaware tolls.)
So before embarking on a journey to Ocean City or other Delmarva destinations, it's wise to calculate your chances of running into one of those outrageous bridge backups. As Sparks notes, if it's say, July 6, and you're leaving at 11 a.m., your chances of an extended sit at the Bay Bridge are excellent. Suddenly the northern route doesn't look so ridiculous.
