Update: Bay Bridge Reopened After Inspection of 'Unusual Movement'
The bridge was reopened around noon after being ruled safe.
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Update (11:55 a.m.)—The westbound Bay Bridge was reopened just before noon after being ruled safe by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Throughout Tuesday morning, emergency crews were inspecting the westbound bridge for "unusual and slight vertical movement," according to a release issued by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
The westbound bridge was shut down after midnight Tuesday for inspection after workers observed movement in the bridge.
"For their safety, all workers left the bridge, and at daylight, a team of inspectors will begin examining the structure," according to the release.
The eastbound bridge is now accommodating all traffic, which is causing delays.
Patch will have more on this story as it develops.
The Cape Exchange
11:20 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Crazy day here at The Cape Exchange. Our phone number used to be the number for Maryland Transportation. We are getting SO many calls from yelling people stuck in traffic. Once they realize that they have the wrong number, they stop yelling at me and then we have a nice chat. One guy told me about missing his flight out of Dulles and lady spoke of being in traffic for over 2 hours. She lives on Kent Island 5 miles from the bridge. The phone is ringing so much that we had to stop answering it so we can get some work done. Funny thing though, the phone company reps years ago swore they weren't giving this number out anymore. I don't believe them. What do you think?
Edward Charles
11:24 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The State website is overloaded and thus provides no information. How does the State expect to relay infrastructure related information to the public?
Thomas Stewart Jr.
11:41 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
and this is why we need anouther Bay Bridge. the need is there and we have been talking about it for 20 years
tom
1:23 pm on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
According to WTOP, they decided that an enormous tarp used by the workers caught the wind and acted somewhat like a sail, causing the bridge to be lifted.