Headed to your favorite beach for those last rays of summer? The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) offers some advice for beachbound travelers.
MDTA expects as many as 350,000 vehicles will cross over the Bay Bridge this weekend, starting on Friday, September 1 and ending on Monday, September 5.
The agency also states drivers may save time by taking an alternative route, traveling north on 1-95 to cross the Tydings Bridge to the bay.
But if the Bay Bridge is your choice, here are the best times to travel its span this holiday period:
- Thursday, September 1 – before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Friday, September 2 – before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Saturday, September 3 – before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
- Sunday, September 4 – before 11 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Labor Day Monday, September 5 – before 9 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 6 – before 7 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
According to the MDTA, most accidents on the bridge are rear-end collisions. so they urge maintaining proper distance from the car in front of you and observing the speed limit. Also, they offer a quick refresher on lane signals:
- RED X: Lane is closed. You MUST NOT enter or travel in any lane over which a RED X signal is shown.
- YELLOW X: Prepare to vacate the lane beneath the YELLOW X signal and move to a lane with a DOWNWARD GREEN ARROW.
- DOWNWARD GREEN ARROW: You can drive in the lane beneath the GREEN ARROW signal.
For 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic conditions, you can call 1-877-BAY SPAN (1-877-229-7726) or visit Baybridge.com. For real-time information on major incidents affecting traffic flow on toll roads, go to twitter.com/TheMDTA.
PHOTO: By Ben Schumin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12861243
