Miles Of Delays Bog Down Bay Bridge Traffic On Windy Day

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Strong winds caused miles of delays ahead of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon. Backups stretched seven miles west of the crossing by 5 p.m. Delays continued past the Severn River Bridge toward Parole.

The strong breeze also halted two-way operations on the bridge. On a normal day, one lane of the westbound span converts during rush hour to let more drivers head toward the Eastern Shore.

Two-way traffic shuts down when wind speeds reach 30 mph for at least 10 minutes or gusts exceed 30 mph over 15 minutes. The Annapolis breeze topped out at 37 mph around 1 p.m.

The bridge was under a wind warning as of 5 p.m. That means drivers of these vehicles should use caution when crossing:

• House trailers
• Box trailers
• Motorcycles
• Vehicles with roof-mount racks containing cargo
• Other vehicles that may be subject to high winds

To see the full scale that the Maryland Transportation Authority uses to assess wind risk, click here.

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Here's how to check on traffic and delays:

• Call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) for 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic conditions. Any pressing travel updates will be posted on the MDTA's Twitter.
• Visit baybridge.com to view traffic cameras and to sign up for email alerts.
• Follow the MDTA on social media at TheMDTA and facebook.com/TheMDTA.
• Ease your travel with E-ZPass. Visit ezpassmd.com to enroll online and for a list of E-ZPass "On the Go" retail locations.
• Know Before You Go - To view traffic cameras on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov or visit MD511.org for statewide travel information. When you call 511, just say "Reach the Beach." The free phone call can eliminate some of the hassle of your road trip.
• To sign up for email/text alerts or view real-time traffic camera images on MDTA roadways, visit mdta.maryland.gov.

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RELATED:

• Bay Bridge Roadwork Resumes Next Week: What To Expect
• New Bay Bridge Crossing Site Proposed By MD Officials

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.