The Nice-Middleton Bridge, named for former Maryland Gov. Wolfe said preserving the old bridge would eventually cause problems for the new span.
Much of the testimony focused on “scouring,” the phenomenon that occurs when two bridges in close proximity cause erosion of the soil at the base of the piers, leading to potential structural problems. They also maintained that groups looking to save it have yet to put forward a credible plan for financing its future needs and operating costs. Wolfe and attorneys for the state argued that the old span is literally falling apart and soon could pose a danger to the public. Brickley called it “a quest to make sure the bridge can be incapacitated.”īrian Wolfe, the MDTA’s director of project development, testified that the authority knew in June that the new span would be ready for traffic in late September or early October. The 11th-hour announcement sparked speculation that the authority rushed the completion of the replacement span to blunt the cycling groups’ lawsuit. On Tuesday, however, just hours before an emergency court hearing, the authority announced that the new bridge will open on Wednesday. “There is no re-do when Maryland unexpectedly blows up the bridge two days from now.”Ĭyclist groups seek to delay demolition of old Nice Bridge over PotomacĪs recently as this week, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), which owns and operates toll facilities in the state, listed “early 2023” as the opening date for the new bridge. “When the old Nice Bridge is destroyed, it’s destroyed forever,” he said. David Brickley, a leading advocate for the groups, said a restraining order would allow more time for citizens and local officials to pursue their options. District Court Judge Deborah Boardman, former Virginia state Del. Those plans were later dropped in a cost-cutting move. When Hogan announced plans to replace the 1940s-era bridge, he pledged to include a dedicated bike/pedestrian lane on the new span. During a three-hour court hearing, the lawyer hired by the cycling coalition said leaving the original Nice-Middleton Bridge in place would preserve the opportunity to use it for recreation.
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