Maryland will receive a $200-million federal loan to help fund a replacement for the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial/Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge across the Potomac River, ending concerns that the state would have to revise itsfundingstrategy for the $463-million project.

The U. S. Dept. of Transportation’s March 15 approval of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan comes nearly two years after the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) submitted its application for funding assistance to replace the 80-year-old, two-lane bridge connecting southern Maryland with King George County, Va. MdTAannouncedthe approval on March 24.

一个联合发泄ure of Skanska, Corman Kokosing Construction Co. and McLean Contracting Co.began在2020年7月中旬建造新的1.9英里四车道通行结构。

At a December 2021 MDTA board meeting, agency officials speculated that the holdup stemmed from safety concerns after plans for a barrier-separated dedicated lane for cyclists and pedestrians were dropped as a cost-cutting measure. Had the loan application been delayed further or rejected, the agency was prepared to look to bond sales or other financing mechanisms.

Scheduled to open this fall, the new bridge will feature 12-ft-wide lanes with 2-ft-wide shoulders, doubling its capacity and improving safety as more motorists look for alternatives to the Interstate-95 corridor between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va.

该结构还将提供价值超过200万美元的功能，以适应骑自行车的人的安全车道共享，以及足够高的主跨度以容纳高船只。

Following completion of the new bridge, the old bridge will be demolished and the debris used to create an artificial fish reef. MDTA and the project team also are joining with the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources to fund oyster seeding in the lower Potomac River basin.