Emergency Repairs for Bay Bridge Following Fatal Aug. 10 Crash
A span of the Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge is undergoing emergency repairs following an investigation that uncovered flaws in its Jersey walls, and more reconstruction could follow. Several parapets on the 4.3-mile eastbound span of the double-span bridge were damaged during a fatal accident Aug. 10 that involved an 18-wheeler and two cars. The truck struck a parapet, knocking a portion of it off the bridge. The truck then skidded more than 100 ft along the wall before rolling into the bay. The truck driver died in the crash.
Radar inspections revealed small voids near the cores of the broken parapets, said Geoffrey Kolberg, chief engineer at the Maryland Transportation Authority.