Maryland’s plan to close the Chester River Bridge for maintenance for four weeks sometime after March—offering no alternative to a complete closure —will expose the town to critical vulnerabilities: a disrupted and degraded public safety network, widespread economic losses for businesses, impact Washington College’s recruitment, and bruise the town’s image as an easily accessible place to visit, work and live.
We think it is a myopic and dangerous decision by the State Highway Administration.
Fire Chief Bruce Neal recently stated that such a closure could dangerously hamper emergency rescue efforts. 21 fire volunteers live on the south side of the bridge. Routing them through Crumpton to get to the station in Chestertown could cost critical minutes in an effort to save life or property. A shorthanded fire department is a prescription for disaster.
While there has been a debate about which month would be best for a bridge closure, the consensus at the public meeting on October 27 was that any month would create the same scenario, at least as far as emergency service issues. If we experience an extended winter, the Tea Party and other economically strategic events could be impacted.
At the last County Commissioner meeting State Highway Administrator Melinda Peters stated that the Maryland Department of Transportation was aware that emergency services would be affected. However, their single negotiable element seemed to be the time of the closure. Again, we believe that anytime the main artery to and from Chestertown is completely closed for a month could endanger life and property and in the very least cause irreplaceable economic loss.
The issue does re-open the subject of building another bridge as included in Chestertown’s comprehensive plan, but only insofar as the realization of our dependence upon this single span of steel and concrete that bears 10,000 vehicle crossings a day. While the idea of another bridge is once again enticing, the reality of appealing to the State for a different scenario for the impending bridge closure is paramount.
Hundreds of petition signatures signifying a unified community and College concern for the closure will be presented at the November 5 State Highway Administration meeting in Chestertown.
While it might be easy for the SHA to list the disruptions on a ledger, our hope is that the petition and presence of community spokespeople will give voice to the many ramifications this plan entails, all of them—except for the maintenance itself—economically dangerous and possibly life threatening.
Virginia Schaible says
Where are the army corps of engineers? why can’t there be a floating bridge installed?
A second bridge just might help Chestertown in general, it could help connect us to the outside world a little easier and make it easier for people to get here. This town needs something beside being the biggest welfare county in the state.
Joe Lill says
Solutions to this dilemma may truly have a political component to it. Has Andy Harris or any of our current State representatives been active in this process? If they’re not part of the solution then they are part of the problem.
Stokes Tomlin says
Although, I am a resident of Virginia, I have been visiting Chestertown for over 20 years. I am quite concerned with the bridge closing and the impact on the local economy. Please consider any repairs on the bridge with the welfare of the community in mind.
Debbi Anceravage says
Being a regular visitor to Chestertown, (at least monthly) this can only bring many very negative results ranging from family visits to economic impact to life saving operations. This makes no sense what so ever and the most definitely there should be another bridge in place before they close the current one. Where are your political representatives?
Stephan Sonn says
For nine years I ran Chestertown Bridge with time for a shop on High street, so I know a little about its quirks and condition.
It needs to be fixed, and anything else is just drama and static. Four weeks is not exactly an eternity.