High Winds Force Bay Bridge Into Full Wind Restrictions: Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD — High winds blew through the region on Tuesday. The strong gusts forced the Bay Bridge to limit some travel Tuesday afternoon.

The Maryland Transportation Administration put the bridge under full wind restrictions at 1:38 p.m. That means sustained winds exceeded 50 mph for at least 10 minutes or gusts consistently topped 50 mph over 15 minutes.

These are the only vehicles that may cross the bridge during full wind restrictions:

• Automobiles
• Pickup trucks
• Flatbed trailers
• Commercial buses
• Heavy-laden tractor/trailers

Tractor-box trailer combinations may not cross if their gross weight is less than 64,000 pounds.

"Any decision to hold traffic at a toll facility would be based upon current weather at a given facility," highway officials said in an announcement. "The MDTA will make every effort to keep all of its facilities open as long as conditions are deemed safe to do so. "

Here is the scale that the MDTA uses to asses wind restrictions:

• Wind Warnings (sustained wind speeds of 30-39 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 30 mph over a period of 15 mins) operators of house trailers, box trailers, motorcycles, vehicles with roof-mount racks containing cargo or any other vehicle that may be subject to high winds are advised to use caution while traveling across the bridge.
• Limited Wind Restrictions (sustained wind speeds of 40-49 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 40 mph over a period of 15 mins) house trailers, empty box trailers or any vehicle that, in the opinion of law-enforcement personnel, may not safely cross the bridge will be prohibited from traveling the bridge. Motorists who are denied passage will be assisted with safely turning around.
• Full Wind Restrictions (sustained wind speeds exceeding 50 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 50 mph over a period of 15 mins) only automobiles, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, commercial buses and heavy-laden tractor/trailers are permitted to cross the bridge. Tractor-box trailer combinations will not be permitted to cross any bridge if the gross weight is less than 64,000 pounds.
• Traffic Holds/Bridge Closure (sustained wind speeds exceeding 55 mph for a continuous period of 10 mins or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 55 mph over a period of 15 mins) In the event of a sudden increase of sustained wind speeds or wind gusts that could jeopardize life or property, the MDTA may elect to discontinue the movement of all traffic across the bridge.

"Please be aware, we cannot predict what phase of the wind policy a bridge will be in at a particular time of the day," the MDTA said. "Determinations are NOT made by forecasts, but rather by real-time weather conditions at a given toll facility. Thank you for your patience and cooperation."

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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