The Maryland State Highway Administration is proposing to build a new fixed bridge on MD 331 to replace the historic Dover Swing Bridge. The swing bridge will remain in place in the open position, at least until the state has decided its fate under the historic structures act.
The problem as I see is that the proposed replacement bridge will have a vertical clearance of only 48 feet MHW. This will make it two feet lower than the fixed 50-foot bridge across the Choptank River at Cambridge. This bridge already excludes a great many sailboats, whose rigs exceed 50 feet. The 48-feet clearance of the new Dover bridge will then exclude many that can just clear 50 feet.
The proposal is open to comment until September 20. I plan to write asking that the bridge have at least a 50-foot clearance instead. It would seem to make sense and would keep the beautiful upper Choptank open to at least to the same sailboats that can clear the first bridge.
If you'd like to comment on the proposal too, the address is: Commander (dpw), Fifth Coast Guard District, 439 Crawford Street, Room 100, Portsmouth VA 23704-5004. Attn: CWO Mike Davis
Please feel free to comment here as well.
For the complete text of the Coast Guard notice, see the CBM Notices to Chesapeake Mariners page here.
—Jody Argo Schroath, Cruise Guide Editor
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