Bay Bridge Rising

Photograph by Aubrey Bodine

C. 1951

Maryland’s eastern and western shores are linked by the largest continuous entirely-over-water steel structure in the world. The bridge from shore to shore - from Sandy Point to Kent Island - measures 4.35 miles. The entire project, including approach roads, is 7.727 miles long. About 6,500,000 man hours of work and 60,000 tons of steel were needed to build it. Work began on November 3, 1949. The bridge was opened on July 30,1952. It cost about $45,000,000 and will be paid for by tolls from this and other state bridges. The bridge was built in a graceful, sweeping curve to comply with regulations determined by the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, and to land the structure on favorable terrain. This dramatic image is one in a series of images created by Bodine of the bay bridge construction.

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