Chesapeake Bay Bridge Toll Hike Begins July 1

Written by Drew Hansen

Getting to the Eastern Shore will be a little more expensive beginning July 1. 

The hike is part of the second wave of phasing higher toll fees that began in November 2011. When the changes began, the toll fee was $2.50.

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) said the toll fees were being used to pay off significant state debt.

"The plan is projected to generate approximately $90 million in its first full year to pay significant debt for rehabilitating MDTA’s aging bridges, tunnels and highways and for constructing additional highway capacity in the Baltimore and Washington regions," according to the press release.

Between July 2011 and June 2012, 28 million vehicles passed over the bridge, according to statistics from MDTA.

As part of Route 50 and 301, the Bay Bridge offers the quickest route between Northern Virginia and Ocean City, Md. as well as popular Delaware beach towns Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and others.  

Beginning July 1, the toll for three-axle vehicles is moving from $8 to $12, four-axle vehicles from $12 to $18, five-axle vehicles from $24 to $36 and six-axle vehicles from $30 to $45.

When the bridge first opened in 1952, the fee was $2.80 per vehicle plus 25 cents per passenger. Prior to that, a ferry service was used to span the Chesapeake Bay.