Chesapeake Bay Bridge West - America's SCARIEST Bridge - Maryland - 4K Infrastructure Drive

Westbound drive across America's scariest bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Filmed: December 2022

From Wikipedia:
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (also known locally as the Bay Bridge) is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the urban Western Shore, between Stevensville and the capital city of Annapolis. The original span, opened in 1952 and with a length of 4.3 miles (6.9 km), was the world's longest continuous over-water steel structure. The parallel span was added in 1973. The bridge is officially named the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge after William Preston Lane Jr. who, as the 52nd Governor of Maryland, initiated its construction in the late 1940s finally after decades of political indecision and public controversy.

The bridge is part of U.S. Route 50 (US 50) and US 301, and serves as a vital link in both routes. As part of cross-country US 50, it connects the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area with Ocean City, Maryland, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and other coastal tourist resort destinations. As part of US 301, it serves as part of an alternative route for Interstate 95 travelers, between northern Delaware and the Washington, D.C., area. Because of this linkage, the bridge is busy and has become known as a point of traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours and summer months.

The bridge's role in transportation was filled by ferries prior to the first span's construction. An annual 10K run across the bridge has been organized on-and-off since 1975. The bridge's economic impact on the areas it connects has been significant, with both Queen Anne's County and Ocean City expanding significantly since the bridge's construction. Future expansion of the bridge has been discussed since 2004, with a task force being formed to investigate the possibility of building a third span.

Because of similar names, it is often confused with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel, a bridge–tunnel linking the Eastern Shore of Virginia with the Hampton Roads region and the rest of Virginia.

[MichaelJacobs]

when we travel from the DC area to Virginia Beach, we'll usually detour by going east on this bridge (Chesapeake Bay Bridge), travel south though MD into VA and then go over/under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. much more fun than the old boring interstates. :)

also, sometimes when heading north to Delaware or beyond on a Friday evening when traffic is really bad on I-95, Google Maps will send me eastward, over this bridge, then north through MD and DE local roads before rejoining I-95 around Wilmington, DE. fun!

[markmoore]

Glad you crossed it WB with one lane heading EB. I was freaked out a bit when I crossed this bridge the first time with this configuration.

[mshotz]

I remember being stuck on the traffic jams on the old span. We'd be in the middle of the suspension part. Trucks going the other way would come by and the bridge would bounce up and down 6 or so inches. We got a flat tire on the old span in 1964 about half-way across in a cold pouring rain. And my dad had to drive off the bridge with the flat and had to unload the station wagon to get to the spare.

I drove across them win a VW beetle during a hurricane with 65 mph winds. Great fun.

[eth]

Reminds me a little of the old Sunshine Skyway Bridge south of Tampa that collapsed in 1980 when struck by a tanker (from videos I have seen).

[arniegreenberg]

I saw a TV special on this bridge where some people are so scared to drive this bridge that they hire drivers to drive their car over this bridge.

[olddoug]

I've been driving over this bridge since the first span opened. It is GREAT! I LOVE IT! What a great view, especially when ships are passing underneath. [It is also awesome from the water.] And no, I do not miss the ferry. Yes. I am OLD.

[jss]

Been on the bridge a few times and it’s scarier in person. 1st time my wife was driving and she was petrified of heights and there was no way to change position. Another time was when I was driving on the eastern span early morning in the fog. the sun decided to pop out so it was eye level though the fog.

[MichaelJacobs]

it's huge and tall, and when there's a good cross breeze blowing, you think it's going to push you off into the water. yeah.

[fredrickfarmer]

I remember back in 2004 or 5 I think, I was on vacation with my mom and we spent a day in Ocean City MD, first time I ever drove the bridge. I remember when we were heading back to Baltimore since we were staying there for a few days, it was summer and it was almost 6 when we left, I was driving at warp speed trying to get to the bridge before dark! It was a miracle I didn't get pulled over by MD state police that time. But you called it, THAT IS ONE SCARY BRIDGE to try crossing at night - NO JOKE!

[saxonsteve]

Myself and my wife were heading North from Carolina and we ended up on this bridge 🌉!! My wife slept 🛌 though the whole way. I thought the bridge 🌉 was totally Awesome!! The views, the ocean views were amazing! Can’t wait to get back on that bridge 🌉!!!!

[georgeboyce]

I grew up in Maryland and have crossed this bridge many times going home from visiting relatives on Maryland's Eastern Shore this bridge never scared me or my family in fact I loved crossing it The bridge that always scared me was the old St Georges bridge in St Georges Delaware

[scpatlnow]

I remember it being scary the times I crossed over it years ago. It doesn't look near as bad in the video though, but I assure you it is when you do it live. Also, what is the fascination with the name Anne and county names???

[-eikh-]

Can’t wait for the Automated Lane Closure System to be fully in place.

[CrystalClearWithBE]

As for the eastbound direction, the toll plaza was demolished and cash tolling has been abolished and even some bridges in the Eastern US have abolished cash tolling and toll plazas. Nowadays, cashless tolling and EZ-Pass on toll gantries replaced toll plazas.

[SimonTekConley]

You have not been on enough bridges to say it's the scariest bridges

[TheRobdock]

I’m from NY and I crossed the Bay Bridge twice it was a nice shortcut back home! However I can see why this bridge is scary 😱I heard recently the traffic jams are scarier and worse!

[wfalc]

Mackinac bridge in winter with high winds is scarier. Metal grates under you instead of road

[rongoesCDN]

I've been on it without the contraflow but the other Chesapeake Bay bridge-tunnel is worse.

[bristal]

At least there are guardrails on this bridge. There’s none on the Millard Tyding bridge in MD

[qkslvrrx]

lol my best friend is very religious and scared of heights.

He made me hold his various catholic charms while he white-knuckled it over the bridge on our way to OC