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The December open houses marked a major milestone for the Tier 2 Study, organizers said in a press release. The MDTA shared alternatives to address existing and future transportation issues at the Bay Bridge.

At the open houses, the MDTA displayed materials describing the agency’s proposed action and the proposed retained alternatives that will be evaluated in an environmental impact statement. The alternatives would remove the existing eastbound and westbound Bay Bridge spans and replace them with two new bridge spans. The new bridge spans would be constructed near the location of the existing bridge spans. Ongoing studies will determine the exact location of any new bridge.

ShoreRivers believes that any combination of the proposed actions will result in increased pollutants entering local rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, new development on the Eastern Shore along the expanded highway corridor will impair near shore and shallow water habitats due to increased stormwater runoff, sediment pollution from construction, increased air emissions and litter.

As the Bay Crossing study progresses and considers traffic staging and expanding existing infrastructure on either end of the new span, ShoreRivers will continue to advocate for strong mitigation tactics for environmental impacts that may occur, including land preservation, shoreline restoration, addition of new public access sites, and implementation of green stormwater and best management practices.

The MDTA Study team encourages the public to provide comments regarding the Tier 2 Study by Monday, Jan. 13.

Comments can be submitted in multiple ways:

Submit an electronic comment form at

• .
• Email comments to info@baycrossingstudy.com.
• Print and mail a completed comment form to: Bay Crossing Study, 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224.