A group of cycling advocates is petitioning to add bike and pedestrian lanes to Maryland's new Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

More than 55 local, state and national  asking Maryland officials to seriously consider the idea as planning, design and construction of a new bridge is underway.

"These water crossings are really, really challenging, and so when we got an opportunity to add a facility, it's important to add it," said Jon Korin, president of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. 

They are one of the organizations asking Maryland officials for bike and pedestrian lanes to be added to the construction plan for a new Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Proposal for Bay Bridge bike lanes

In the petition, the group noted that bike paths on the bridge would create the first commuting option for cyclists traveling between the Eastern and Western shores and would reduce traffic congestion. 

The letter also highlights that it would create opportunities for recreational activities on the bridge. 

"It would be fully barrier separated, there would be a vertical separation like a jersey wall or some kind of physical barrier," Korin said. "This would not be just a stripe on the roadway; that is not safe." 

Bridges with similar features include the Tapan Zee Bridge in New York, the Oakland Bridge in California and the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge in Maryland.

"We envision many other recreational activities that a shared-use path would provide, such as bird-watching, photography, strolling, jogging, and running. The path would offer safe access to exercise, recreation, and the natural maritime viewscape," the letter reads.

Korin said it would not only create opportunities for transportation and recreation, but also for tourism.

"The Chesapeake Bay defines this area, the iconic largest estuary in the U.S. People come from all over the world to see the Chesapeake Bay. Can you imagine having access to viewing it on foot, on scooter, on bike from the Bay Bridge," Korin said. 

MDTA considers proposal 

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) said it was considering the addition of pedestrian and bike lanes to the Bay Bridge. 

"MDTA is considering the safe inclusion of a shared-use path along a new bridge. A shared-use path across a new Bay Bridge would be a two-way ped/bike facility and separated from travel lanes/shoulders by a physical barrier," the agency said in a statement. 

"We just want to make sure that it goes from consideration to a definitive element of the new bridge," Korin said. "This bridge is going to be a big, long-term, expensive proposition. Adding a facility like this is a very small incremental cost while you're building such a large, important bridge." 

New Chesapeake Bay Bridge 

A new Chesapeake Bay Bridge is still in the planning phase.

In 2024, Maryland transportation officials found that the existing two bridge structures were not enough to handle traffic demands, the Baltimore Banner reported. 

In November 2024, the MDTA said it was still in the second stage of an environmental review process to determine the potential impacts of a new bridge on the surrounding area. 

According to the , the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is in "fair" condition and will reach the end of its "useful lifespan" in the decades to come.

Find more information on this topic or any others relating to the

• Chesapeake Bay