HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3299

FOR the purpose of requesting the appointment of a
legislative committee to study the condition and safety
of the bridge over the Choptank River between Talbot
and Dorchester Counties at Cambridge.

WHEREAS, There is general concern for a number of
reasons over the condition of the bridge over the Choptank
River between Talbot and Dorcester Counties at the City of
Cambridge. The structure of the bridge is suspect and
should be examined to determine whether it is sound.
Particular attention should be called to the integrity of
the superstructure and of the structure at low tide, the
latter to determine whether the foundation is secure.
Memories of the Denton bridge problem loom large.

Having been dedicated in 1936, the bridge has seen a
tremendous change since then in the volume, weight, and size
of the traffic it must bear. Not only have passenger
vehicles increased in weight, size, and speed, but also
there has been a similar increase in commercial vehicles,
tractor-trailers, earth moving equipment, and the like. The
bridge was not designed for either the size or volume of
this kind of traffic.

As a result of the increase in size and volume of
traffic, there has been a distinct increase in the number
and severity of accidents. The roadbed is too narrow for
the kind of traffic it handles and motorists who experience
mechanical difficulties are in peril from the traffic that
speeds by.

Finally, warm weather weekend sun-seekers regularly
clog the bridge and approaches with traffic. This prevents
the local citizens who must rely on the structure from
utilizing it fully; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Delegates are requested to appoint a bridge investigating
committee to review the condition and safety of the Choptank
River Bridge at Cambridge and to report its findings to the
General Assembly in the 1981 Session; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Choptank Bridge Committee be
composed of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by
the President, and five members of the House of Delegates,
to be appointed by the Speaker; and be it further

RESOLVED, That staff and secretarial support services
for the Choptank Bridge Committee be provided by the state
Highway Administration and the Department of Legislative
Reference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the
Honorable James Clark, Jr., President of the Senate; the
Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin, Speaker of the House of