A bridge looking for somewhere
[I]Maryland, Virginia revisit talks on possible new Potomac River crossing[/I]Maryland and Virginias transportation officials met earlier this month to further discuss the possibility of building another Potomac River crossing to ease traffic congestion in the Washington Metropolitan area. The talks are the latest in a series of discussions that have gone on for decades on how to get travelers from outside the region across the Potomac and limit their impact on local traffic, which is already noted as being some of the most congested in the country.
The key problem remains: where should the bridge be built?
Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton disclosed the new push for a second crossing while talking with reporters this week following a luncheon hosted by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce to discuss Dulles rail. Connaughton said a new bridge could eliminate 15 percent of rush-hour traffic on the Beltway. Weve started to engage in discussions with the state of Maryland, he said. It may not have support with all the special interests.
Jack Cahalan, spokesman for Marylands Department of Transportation said Thursday that Maryland and Virginia transportation officials met March 9 to follow up a general discussion between Gov. Martin OMalley and Gov. Robert F. McDonnell. These discussions are very preliminary, he said. Wed like to keep the dialogue going though, because this has been on the radar screen for many decades.
Maryland has refused to consider any bridge and roadway that would land in Montgomery Countys agricultural preserve and has long insisted that a bridge north of the Beltway should land no farther south than Point of Rocks in Frederick County, where a bridge already carries Route 15 across the Potomac.
Virginians have traditionally viewed that location as too far west, arguing for a link between western Montgomery County and Loudoun County that could serve as a techway between Interstate 270 in suburban Maryland and high-tech offices near Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia.
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