Law suit filed in deaths during two-way running on Maryland Bay Bridge

Maryland (Toll) Transportation Authority (MdTA) is named as a defendant in a $19m law suit filed over the deaths of three men in a collision during two-way operations on the three lane 1973 span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at about 4pm May 10 2007. The multi-vehicle collision began with a trailer in one of the two westbound lanes coming loose from the SUV towing it, causing many vehicle lane departures and hits including head-on ones.

The suit claims damages from some of the drivers for the trailer breakaway,  for not maintaining safe distance and for excessive speed and other negligence, but it also goes at the state toll authority for:

- allowing two-way traffic without any barrier

- failing to provide adequate warning of dangerous two-directional, unbarriered conditions

- failure to adequately protect the safety and welfare of those killed

- other negligence and carelessness

The case is filed by Paul D Bekman of the Baltimore law firm Salisbury Clements Bekman Marder & Adkins.

BACKGROUND: The Bay Bridge which links the western peninsula or shore of Maryland and Delaware with mainland USA near Annnapolis MD consists of a 1952 span of just two lanes now used almost exclusively for eastbound traffic and the 1973 three lane span built to the north of the 1952 span. The newer span is used either for westbound traffic in all three lanes, or for two lanes westbound and one eastbound. The approach roads on both sides of the bridge are three lanes each direction and at holidays and weekends there is severe congestion because of the lane drop as well as the lesser capacity of tight lanes and steep grades and lack of shoulder or offsets from the parapets.

COMMENT: Amazingly the Maryland toll authority has no plans for replacement of this decrepit, dangerous and undersized bridge, which is also an eyesore over the celebrated Chesapeake Bay. No other toll authority in the country, faced with structures as obsolete, has been so complacent.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-04-27