Chestertown’s Bridge of Sighs

Any new bridge over the Chester won’t happen for at least five years.

That’s what State Highway Administration officials said today in unveiling several options, which include widening the existing span to four lanes, or building another two-lane bridge either upstream, or – in a surprise – possibly spanning the Chester about a mile downriver.

The next step is a “project planning study” that involves such things as environmental impact, historical considerations, traffic patterns and assessing residents’ wants. That will go on for two to three years, they said, and construction time will take about two years more.

Michael Rothenheber, an engineering consultant to the SHA, described the current bridge as “functionally obsolete” – meaning it is too narrow for federal standards and cannot well accommodate current or projected demands.

“The bridge is not structurally deficient,” he quickly added. “This bridge is a safe bridge right now.”

However, he said daily traffic volume is growing from an average of 17,200 as of last year to 26,600 by year 2030. And he said that while 23 percent of vehicles are through traffic, for 77 percent Chestertown is the destination. Thus, two more traffic lanes are needed.

One option is putting them parallel to the current bridge. But Rothenheber appeared the concede the difficulty of getting that done, by noting that “It is an historic district.” Widening the point of entry to Chestertown would mean knocking down at least parts of some historic homes and – going by Chestertownian feelings about that – paving over a bunch of dead bodies.

The surprise alternative is to run a parkway westward at the intersection of Rts. 213 and 544, going through Britland Farm and south of Kingstown, crossing the Chester and linking into John Hanson Road. This would let traffic access Chestertown via Rt. 289 or continuing on John Hanson to intersect at Rt. 20.

This route, though, means paving over a substantial amount of critical wetlands. And, after the meeting, Rothenheber said that while such permitting is sometimes granted, typically that’s when there are no alternatives with less impact on critical areas.

Also, a southern span would need to arch considerably higher over the river, than would one upstream, to accommodate sailboats. If a span there were not high above the water, the tall ships could no longer get to Chestertown for downrigging weekend.

The upstream span seemed to be the leading choice and was clearly the favorite of officials on the Kent County side of the river. As Commissioner Ron Fithian said, “It’s still the preferred route for a lot of reasons.”

It very closely follows the route laid out 20 years ago. Splitting eastward off Rt 213 it runs past Chester Harbor and crosses the Chester a little downstream from the cell phone tower on the Kent side.

Where it differs from earlier versions is that it would be a “boulevard” rather than a “bypass.” As Rothenheber explained it, a bypass is typically higher speed with limited access. A boulevard is designed for slower traffic.

The plans for this route showed it having a roundabout at Rt. 544 and intersecting — with traffic access — Round Top Road. The drawing did not show it allowing traffic to access or exit at Fey Road – but SHA officials said that could be done and they will be considering it.

And it is precisely at Fey Road where the problems begin.

Chester Harbor residents get as agitated over the thought of Fey Road being cut — and that route being closed to them — as Chestertown residents do over the notion of eliminating any of their old houses.

“We’re not against a bypass, we’re against being bisected,” is how it was put after the meeting by Ron Abler, a member of the board of the Chester Harbor Home Owners Association.

Abler heatedly told the Kent County commissioners that 50 percent of Chestertown’s first responders live in Chester Harbor. If an upstream span results in the Fey Road route to Chestertown being closed, he said, it could add 15 to 30 minutes travel time from that neighborhood to town.

Commissioner Ron Pickrum tried to cool tempers some, saying, “Don’t shoot the messenger yet. They haven’t decided anything yet.”

One pledge made by SHA: any new span or additions to the old one will include safe lanes for pedestrians and bicycles. SHA officials conceded that the current bridge’s accommodation for people and bikes “is scary at best.”