Photo Courtesy of Joshua Kinard

The Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge may finally get it's long overdue replacement!

It looks like the ridiculous toll increases may be finally put to good use, as the state of Maryland has allocated $50 million to start planning the replacement of the aging bridge.  That money won't go too far however, as the total cost of the project is estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $850 Million.

What Does $50 Million Pay For?

The initial funding will go to the acquisition of the land needed to build the new bridge as well as at least a portion of the necessary planning to make this dream a reality.  The initial plans for the bridge call for doubling in size from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, as well as a pedestrian/bike path along the bridge as well. County Commissioner Ken Robinson has been a long time advocate of the bridge replacement and was quoted as calling the announcement “not only a big victory for Charles County but the entire region.” “This is a real commitment on the part of the state,” he said. “When you start releasing funds like $50 million, you know it’s going to go for a whole lot more than just studies, so for the first time I am confident that in the next decade we will have a new Nice Bridge, and dare I say, a nicer bridge.”

How Long Until The New Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge is Completed?

There is no concrete completion date for the new structure at this time, but it's entirely possible that we could see it finished within the next 10 years.  Bear in mind that the bridge toll now sits at $6 per car, and the funds from the higher tolls are meant to be used for infrastructure improvements.  With a little bit of luck and a ton of hard work from community advocates, the future of our region is continuing to take shape!