Maryland's plan to replace the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is raising concerns among farmers and conservation groups on the state's Eastern Shore. They say the new crossing could increase development pressure on farmland and other open land, and are asking the state to create a dedicated fund to preserve agricultural areas.
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The Maryland Transportation Authority Board voted in December to move ahead with a plan to build two new four-lane spans across the Chesapeake Bay and remove the existing bridges. WBOC reported. The project would also widen Routes 50 and 301 to eight lanes, with four lanes in each direction. It could also include a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians.
The new spans would have full shoulders and greater clearance underneath, allowing larger ships to pass through. The project is still several years away, with final design expected to begin in 2028 and construction targeted for 2032.
As the plans move forward, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is working with local governments and conservation groups on a proposal for a land preservation fund linked to the bridge project. Queen Anne's, Caroline and Talbot counties have signed a letter supporting the idea.
Development pressure on Eastern Shore
An MTA report on the Bay Crossing project found that more than 111,000 acres across the Eastern Shore are vulnerable to growth and development pressure. The land includes farms, forests and waterways in Caroline, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties. The three counties together account for about 22% of Maryland's agricultural sales, according to the report.
Jay Falstad, executive director of the Queen Anne's Conservation Association, said, "The goal is to try and protect farmland for the future," Falstad said. "Queen Anne's County is an agricultural gem, and you would not want to see that disrupted with a sea of subdivision development that would follow in the wake of a new Bay bridge."
Falstad said most of the proposed funding would likely go to Queen Anne's and Caroline counties, which he said are the state's largest grain-producing counties.
“Right now it's a request of the state basically saying that if you're going to spend a few billion dollars on a new Bay bridge, then you ought to be prepared to allocate a few hundred million dollars for land preservation,” Falstad said.
He also said agriculture is Queen Anne's County's top economic sector and that the county has preserved nearly 40% of its farmland. Falstad remains opposed to the bridge project, saying the state has not adequately justified the need for a new span given the remaining lifespan of the existing bridge.
Conservation group proposes land fund
Carol Bean, land use and policy manager for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, said the preservation fund is still only a concept. No formal agreement is in place, and discussions are continuing with the Maryland Department of Transportation and other state agencies.
Bean said the group is trying to align its work with the formal record of decision for the bridge project, which she said could come as early as this fall or early winter.
