Sources at the Maryland State Comptroller’s Office confirmed today that there will be no bridge closure this July and August.
The Chester River Bridge closure plan will be reviewed by State Highway Administration to look for less interruptive maintenance plans.
The bridge was scheduled to be closed between July 18 to August 12 and has become a rallying point for the town to ask State Highway Administration to understand its economic dependency on an open bridge during those strategic tourism months. Solid statistics about how a closure would significantly affect the county’s economy during the July through August period have been submitted the SHA.
State Comptroller Peter Franchot and Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn have worked with Chestertown and Kent County Officials, residents, and small business owners to table the bridge closure for the short term. The Office said they will be looking at a plan that will be more compatible with the town’s need to have an open bridge
Gregory Kimmel says
NO GOOD TURN GOES UNPUNISHED!
Let us not lose sight that the dates the SHA scheduled for the July closing was directly in response to the requests of concerned citizens, individuals directly involved in the tourism trades, the agricultural industries, construction trades, Washington College as well as town and county officials from both sides of the bridge.
The logic was to have the closure during late July and early August when the weather is especially hot and humid, when most folks choose to head to the beach. The fertilizing and planting season has passed and harvest has yet to begin. The spring time rush to get construction moving has passed. Washington College has quieted down for the summer and after school and recreational activities have ended. Tea Party and Down Rigging weekends would not be impacted.
It appears the comptrollers office had only just recently became aware of the closing and did so from a source that may not have chosen to attend any of the many meetings that took place to discuss scheduling the work for a more appropriate time. All in an attempt to lesson any adverse impacts to the local economy.
We were very fortunit to have had the SHA schedule and reschedule the maintenance on our bridge so soon in the process. In Maryland there are in excess of 500 bridges in need of repair.
I hope we did not lose our place in line due to some nearsighted individual who’s lone voice was able to convince the comptrollers office that they were speaking on behalf of the rest of us, which clearly they were not.
Stephanie Thomas says
Very well written. Thank you.
Gerry Levin says
I totally disagree. Thank You.
Pat Bjorke says
As much as no one wants the inconvenience, this maintenance has to be done. What good does it do to simply prolong what will be the inevitable? For those of us who have to travel the bridge at least twice a day to get to work and back it’s going to happen some time, why not make it now? The only real justification for delay would be to develop a plan to ensure unimpeded emergency vehicle travel. If SHA hadn’t dragged its feet for the last 30 years about building the bypass, this wouldn’t even have to be an issue.
Steve Payne says
I agree.
lynda willard says
WAY TO GO PETER FRANCHOT & PETE RAHN……
Gerry Levin says
YES!!! THANK YOU!!!
Joe Diamond says
While it is nice to know this summer will not be nuts………….
Any chance the postponed paint job on the obsolete and declining bridge could be translated into beginning the work on a new bridge? Could it be constructed to meet vertical and horizontal requirements for a navigable waterway? If so the whole span discussion could end.
Then there is the bypass discussion. I think that ship has sailed. There are plenty of plans but all involve eminent domain acquisition of homes. The not-in- my-backyard folks will get real shrill when it does come to taking their backyard. Beyond that there is a hint that building a road and bridge may require displacing plants and animals……..dirt may need to be moved. After construction there may be traffic noise. It ain’t pretty! The State Highway Administrations will have other projects with less meetings per mile.
In the end I see Chester Harbor and Kingstown as they are. The Kent County side will just have to suck it in. Washington Avenue will be crowded and a little truck noisy from time to time.
Or we can paint the same old bridge, change the deck again while patching the patches. Glad the foundation will last forever.
Joe