Last Updated May 2020
Project Background/Description
This proposed bridge is a joint project of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County. This feature will provide a bridge crossing exclusively for people walking or biking over the Patuxent River, connecting the existing WB&A Trail segments within each county.
The bridge design is a flat ~550-foot span with two abutments and three intermediate piers. It will provide more than 12-feet of width between the railings to accommodate emergency response motor vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances. On each end of the bridge, the project includes very short sections of paved trail, fencing, and landscaping to enhance the existing trail approaches. These segments will connect to the existing trails already built to the river’s edge on each side.
The bridge will serve as a key link in the Maryland section of the East Coast Greenway, a proposed 3,000-mile off-road bicycle and pedestrian trail from Maine to Florida, which is now over 30 percent complete. The project is strongly supported by Maryland’s state transportation and recreation agencies, who have provided funding, political support, staff involvement, and planning guidance. It is also strongly supported by state and local elected officials, Bowie State University and the City of Bowie, which is a leader in developing the Bowie Heritage Trail.
Status/Project Updates
As of March 2020, the project is in the Design Phase. The design is 95% complete and permitting is done. A summary of completed and anticipated project milestones is as follows:
- Construction Bid Package: Spring 2020
- Construction Contract Award: Summer 2020
- Construction Notice to Proceed: Fall 2020
Actual dates for the completion of the milestones are subject to change.
The anticipated project construction is 12 to 18 months, with completion expected by Fall 2021.