hsweiss

From https://mdta.maryland.gov/Toll_Facilities/BHT.html Vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using both the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor Tunnels. In addition, vehicles in excess of 13 feet, 6 inches, in height, or 96 inches (8 feet) in width; and all double trailers are prohibited from using the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. For additional information regarding these restrictions, please call 410-537-1374.

I fully agree with you about going through the city. However, it appears that its legal to transport hazmat through town: Hazard Overview: Hazardous Materials Incidents in Baltimore Hazardous materials (HazMats) are part of our economy. They are used to make an array of commercial and industrial products which we consume and rely upon for various purposes. In Baltimore City, there are over 200 facilities that manufacture and/or store hazardous chemicals at threshold quantities. These are known as “Tier II Facilities,” and they are required to report to the Maryland Department of the Environment on the types and quantities of chemicals at their respective locations. Every day, hazardous materials are also transported through Baltimore via railroad, trucks, and ships. Companies that manufacture, store, and transport hazardous materials are responsible for adhering to federal, state, and local requirements to ensure that these materials are handled safely and do not threaten public health. When HazMat incidents do occur, the Baltimore City Fire Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment play the primary role in responding to and mitigating the incident. https://emergency.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/hazmat information.pdf

It *was* a loop.....

This is from a 2015 study performed for the Maryland Transportation Authority regarding the 4 build options (https://mdta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/Files/Bay_Bridge_LCCA_Report_12-2015.pdf)

It was scary to drive across when it had the metal grid roadway surface. The car would sway left & right and there isn't much wiggle room on the eastbound bridge.

Oh, I didn't say the bridge replacement would be built. Its an astounding amount of money - not to mention the cost and schedule overruns that will inevitably occur. Its just that if a new bridge would be built, why would the old bridges stay in place with the immense costs involved in maintaining them?

Exactly - one step at a time. In recent history, it seemed like the Bay Bridge would be replaced first which would allow taller ships but would require a new terminal in Baltimore prior to reaching the Key Bridge. But now it looks like the reverse might occur with the rebuilding of the Key Bridge. However, the old Key Bridge was very steep at its 185' above the water so the onramps would have to be re-engineered to allow a lower grade if the height were to be increased (e.g., the NYC Verrazano Bridge is 225' - a full 40' higher than the Key or Bay Bridge.

We just drove and parked in Bayonne in December and it was fine. We were in the garage and other than the longer walk as compared to Baltimore, it was fine. Of course the cost was much higher since Bayonne charges $30/day vs. Baltimore's $15/day.

Not necessarily so. Why would we spend $8B (or more) to build a new bridge and not build enough lane capacity that would require keeping the old bridges? The 'newer' west-bound bridge is 51 years old (build in 1973). The 'older' east-bound span opened in 1952 making it 72 years old! The media was calling the Key Bridge 'old' at 47 years. Between the 2 spans there is a total of 5 lanes. I would assume that a new bridge would be at least 4 lanes in each direction (and maybe even dual-stacked like the Verrazano Bridge). Why wouldn't the plan be that the new bridge remove the operations and maintenance costs required for the ancient bridges? Also a new bridge could be built higher to accommodate taller ships and other items such as the Panamax cranes - they needed to shut down the Bay Bridge to deliver the cranes into the Port of Baltimore because they barely fit under the bridges.