A renewed concern with heavy truck traffic across the Chester River Bridge onto Maple Avenue- Washington Avenue (Rt. 213) was addressed by concerned residents at last week’s Town Council and County Commissioners meetings.
Representatives of the State Highway Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation were on hand at Tuesday’s County Commissioners meeting to present the annual Consolidation Transportation Program for 2023. After their presentation, Several Chestertown residents used SHA’s presence as an opportunity to talk about the dangers of increased truck traffic across the Chester River Bridge.
Chestertown resident Michael McDowell attended both meetings to appeal to the town council and county commissioners to reexamine the studies and proposals made in 2015.
Although the original studies and proposal made by the Chestertown Community Task Force included a long-term goal of a Bypass connecting Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties east of the Chester River Bridge, it also stated in the 2015 Comprehensive Plan:
“Two earlier versions of the Chestertown Comprehensive Plan anticipated the construction of, and supported, the Bypass. That did not occur, but significant new development outside the Town, in both Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, did occur, bringing more and more traffic. The result:
• Town residents who must travel Washington Avenue face worsening delays.
• Vehicular connection between neighborhoods is more difficult and less safe.
• Bicycle and pedestrian traffic is increasingly dangerous.
• Traffic problems may have negative consequences for the Historic District, economic development, retail vitality and housing values.
• Congestion has negative physical and aesthetic impacts on Chestertown’s Historic District, especially the waterfront and Washington Avenue.”
McDowell wonders why the increase in traffic, safety, and speed issues were not detached from the overall proposal and considered on their own merit and feels that is time for reconsideration, but all meetings and proposals ended.
The 2015 Comprehensive plan cited that 13,800 vehicles cross the Chester River daily, often without reducing their speed to the 25mph limit. Until a Bypass was added, the plan called for traffic-calming techniques like speed cameras and truck-re-routes enforced by law
McDowell says that many semis routed through Chestertown simply avoid tolls and weigh stations on Rt. 301.
McDowell wants to see a new coordinated effort between the Town of Chestertown, Washington Avenue, and Maple Avenue residents’ groups to approach the SHA with further plans to make the Rt 213 entrance into the Town safer.
The Spy interviewed Mr. McDowell and in the coming weeks will follow up with Councilman Tom Herz and others who also participated in the meetings.
This video is approximately six minutes in length. To read the 2015 Town of Chestertown Comprehensive Plan, go here.
Clark Bjorke says
The increased heavy truck traffic is adding considerable wear and tear on our nearly 90 year old bridge. I worry a bit when crossing before or behind a large truck. Will that steel repair keep holding? How much of this traffic can it take? A bypass is needed and needed soon.
Bill Anderson says
Mr. McDowell evidently has not resided in the Chestertown area for very long. He should erealize that the majority of people in the area are not problem solvers at all, but instead are far more adept at throwing blockades in front of proposals for betterment. For example, each and every downtown merchant will voice major objections to a bypass of the Bridge, because such would divert auto traffic and customers away from the town center.
The clear solution to the traffic and deteriorating Bridge problem is to construct a bypass from perhaps a mile or so east of the bridge, to some point in the vicinity of the former Campbell Soup Co. plant property on route 291. This would likely necessitate replacement of the rt. 291 bridge across the Morgnec waterway. Then remove the rte. 213 drawbridge apparatus, and leave the two seperate sections of the Bridge to serve as a fishing pier.
Certainly a solution requires significant engineering work, environmental studie, and eventually an extensive construction period. Likely time frame to do this is a minimum of 8 years. But, IT CAN BE DONE! How many years have already been squandered because people could not agree? It is the state highway administration’s project to plan, finance, get community sign-on, and construct. What, I wonder, is the exact reason this has not made substantial progress?
Paula Reeder says
Bill –
The reason nothing has been done is both political and financial. Bypass discussions have been going on for decades but Kent and Queen Annes haven’t been able to agree on responsibilities for paying for and constructing the proposed bypass. Also, local Kent County factions and Queen Annes County residents living adjacent to the proposed bypass route have objected to the bypass for various reasons, including possible loss of business in downtown Chestertown. and increased traffic through Queen Anne’s County residential neighborhoods. Certainly, there are ways to address both concerns and to direct car traffic so people who are interested in touring Chestertown and surrounds can choose a route that is consistent with their travel goals. It’s about time that the Chestertown Mayor and Town Council responded affirmatively to resident concerns about truck traffic going up Rte. 213 through town and opened a dialogue with our counterparts in Queen Anne’s County to make a truck bypass a reality.
Bill Anderson says
Paula —
Actually, I believe that the entire reason for nothing being done is 100% political. Route 213 on both sides of the Chester River, and the existing bridge across the River, are the sole responsibility of the state transportation authority. From planning, to design, to construction along with all the financing, are that agency’s responsibility and prerogative. They may listen to the town council, if the town chooses to adress the matter, and to the QA County Council as well, but the matter rests with that state agency. If nothing constructive is done, you watch the blame game and lawsuits against the state for misfeasance in having done nothing when that bridhe has to be taken out of service fgor a couple years of repairs.
Michael McDowell says
With respect, I did my “homework” on the past, recent past, and very recent past. I take background research seriously, and I have lived here permanently for 5 years and 4 months. I pay taxes which are as high on a much more expensive house in DC as the historic one I live in in town. I have read all the materials on actions to improve the Maple/Washington Avenues corridor and met with people involved in the hard work over two years from 2014 and 2015. There is too often an attitude among some longer residents who I encounter who suggest “nothing will happen.” I don’t accept that attitude at all and I am realistically hopeful that we can indeed act to improve matters. I believe we can tackle the issues of a replacement for the bridge, and a bypass, once we have taken the more modest steps to improve the 213 gateway. One thing at a time, and build on that for the next steps.
William Hollingsworth says
Ok, in full disclosure, I’m one of those guys who put a No Bridge to Kent sign in my front yard. I know we were talking about the bay bridge at that time but I felt the same about the concept of a new bridge across the Chester into the county. I am reluctantly accepting the fact that a bridge is coming. Not any time too soon but its coming. And I see an obvious solution, one that I’m sure has been talked about before but I will throw it out again. We should put the new bridge beside the current one, connecting 213 south of the river to the foot of High Street. The approaches are already there. It immediately cuts the traffic across the current bridge in about half. It preserves access to all the businesses who depend on traffic for their livelihood. It doesn’t alter the character of our county by cutting a swath of highway across fields, farms, private property and a very beautiful river. Yes, I know there will be those that are still negatively impacted by a change in traffic density outside their door. I wish that there was a more elegant solution that did not transfer that impact to those who chose to live outside of town in a rural country setting. I don’t feel good about appeasing one group of citizens by hurting another. Make it like Centreville, Washington Ave is one way north-bound across the river and High Street is one way south-bound. Some how Centreville has survived that set up and I would guess, a very similar level of traffic.
Ok, I wasn’t fully honest up front, I didn’t just put up a No Bridge to Kent sign in my front yard, I crossed off the “Kent” part. I don’t want any new bridges across the bay, “build it and they will come”. Same here, build that bypass and we will see both an immediate and a long term change to our county.
Joan Berwick says
I wholeheartedly endorse William Hollingsworth’s suggestion. Seems a fairly elegant solution. Also seems likely that some rather wealthy property owners at the foot of High St in particular, will be formidable opponents.
Barry Dirkin says
For the most part I agree with Mr. Hollingsworth. My thoughts are these…
Like it or not Kent County is essentially a peninsula. This means that many town visitors come here because they want to visit. Queen Anne’s County doesn’t have much of a horse in this race since most of their attention is turned toward Centreville and points west along 301. As Chestertown is not located on a primary commuter route, the construction of a bypass bridge north of town and decommissioning of the existing 213 bridge will most likely result in even less foot traffic in town. While this prospect may make some residents happy, the merchants in town will surely not be counted among them.
I can think of three solutions….
1. Lower the weight restrictions on the existing bridge to limit or curtail truck traffic and call it a day.
2. Build a replacement bridge adjacent to the existing bridge as Mr. Hollingsworth suggests and decommission the existing bridge upon completion of the new bridge.
3. Lower the weight restrictions on the existing bridge AND build a bypass north of town.
It is vital that a bridge crossing the Chester River remains on 213. The town merchants may not survive without it.