State to Study Ped/Bike Paths on Middle River BridgeJean Flanagan The Avenue News 01/05/2005 At the request of the Essex-Middle River Renaissance Corporation (E-MRRC), the State Highway Administration (SHA) has agreed to study the possibility of creating a pedestrian walkway and raised bike path on the Middle River Bridge. Shawn Meyer, president of the E-MRRC, wrote to SHA Metropolitan District Engineer, David Malkowski, in November outlining suggestions made by the Urban Design Assistance Team (UDAT). [View the letter here] The UDAT's suggestions were based on community input gathered through meetings, workshops, and forums. "One recurring theme that surfaced from the input was the need and desire to have more pedestrian and bicycle facilities and to provide public access to the waterfront," Meyer wrote. One of the UDAT's areas of focus included the Middle River Bridge. The team looked at the possibility of creating a "gateway" to Middle River and providing pedestrian and cyclists access. The E-MRRC proposal includes a pedestrian walkway, planters, ornamental lamps and a bike path on the bridge. The proposal also includes eliminating the right-turn only lane to allow for the widened sidewalk, planters and raised bike path. Meyer wrote the benefits to the community include improved access between the Hawthorne community and various parks on the western side and between several new housing developments on the western side and Geresbeck's Shopping Center and Midthorne Park. It would also offer a "safe haven" for bicyclists and serve as a traffic-calming device. "The bridge plaza would interrupt the long third lane to prevent the long-distance and high-speed use of the right-turn-only lane as a through or passing lane by motorists," he wrote.  | The proposed pedestrian and bicycle lanes would reduce the motor vehicle lanes to two on the Middle River Bridge. (To view full-resolution version left click on the drawing. Drawing prepared by Shawn Meyer) |
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. recently announced plans to upgrade the bridge, continuing with the brick trim and nautical-themed railing and lighting already in place along Eastern Boulevard. The project was advertised for bid in December and will begin in the spring. "The aesthetic treatment project does not involve major sidewalk reconstruction," Malkowski said in his reply to Meyer. "An initial review of your proposal and the parapet aesthetic treatment does not include any obvious conflicts with the current project that would preclude future implementation of your proposal." [View the full reply here] Malkowski said the District Traffic Section will study the proposal and his office would have a more detailed response by the end of January. "We appreciate the Essex-Middle River Renaissance Corporation's interest in improving pedestrian access to the bridge, providing a safe-haven for bicyclists and providing traffic calming," he said. Meyer suggested the bridge improvements be included in the realignment of the intersection of Eastern Boulevard and Old Eastern Avenue schedule to begin in the spring of 2005. He also suggested the SHA's Transportation Enhancement Program as a funding source. The program provides federal funding through the Transportation Equity Act which funds pedestrian and bicycle improvements to state highways.  | UDAT member Mark Humienny completed this composite to illustrate how people could stop and enjoy the view at the bridge. |
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