The Patuxent River bridge project is delayed because the contractor didn’t follow the right steps to ensure the bridge is “American made,” a requirement for grant funding. They’re close to a solution and expect to finish the project in about three months.
Here are the highlights:
- The Patuxent River bridge project has faced delays due to improper pre-engineering by the contractor.
- The bridge must meet ‘American made’ requirements for grant funding, causing the contractor to be in a holding pattern since May 2023.
- The project manager is working with SHA and the contractor to find a solution to avoid complete re-fabrication of the bridge.
- Construction is expected to resume in the coming months, with an estimated completion time of three more months.
- The bridge will connect existing WB&A Trail segments in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties for walking and biking.
- The project is a collaboration between Anne Arundel County and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
- The bridge design features a flat 550-foot span with paved trail sections, fencing, and landscaping.
- This bridge is a key link in the Maryland section of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile trail from Maine to Florida.
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Patuxent River Bridge Project Update
From Council Member Dufour Woolfley: I received a couple queries regarding the status of the bridge on the WB&A trail over the Patuxent River, a project that was expected to have been completed some time ago.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works is managing the project. Their Public Works project manager recently updated City staff and explained why the project has been delayed.
Since approximately May 2023, the contractor has been in a holding pattern because they pre-engineered the bridge without going through the proper protocols spelled out by SHA to ensure that the bridge was "American made,” which is a requirement of the grant funding.
The project manager has been working with SHA and the contractor to come up with a solution that will avoid the bridge needing to be fabricated all over again. They are nearing an agreement that, hopefully, will allow construction to continue in the coming months.
It is anticipated that it will take approximately three more months to finish the project. Read more about the project here.
Project Background
The Patuxent bridge crossing is meant to connect the existing WB&A Trail segments in Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties, facilitating walking and biking over the Patuxent River.
The bridge is a joint project of Anne Arundel County and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The bridge design is a flat 550-foot span with two abutments and three intermediate piers. It will include sections of paved trail, fencing, and landscaping to improve existing trail approaches connecting to the existing trails on the river’s edge.
The bridge will serve as a key link in the Maryland section of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile off-road bicycle and pedestrian trail from Maine to Florida, which is a third of the way complete.