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Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Maryland)
Encyclopedia
The Severn River Bridge, officially known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, is a bridge
that crosses the Severn River
northwest of the city limits
of Annapolis, Maryland
. The bridge serves as part of the John Hanson Highway, which is signed as U.S. Route 50
and U.S. Route 301
. Maryland Route 2
also traverses the bridge, but no Maryland Route 2 signs exist along the section of highway the route traverses. Route 2 splits off US 50/301 east of the bridge and becomes Governor Ritchie Highway, and to the west it leaves the highway along Solomons Island Road. The bridge serves as the main connection between Annapolis and points east, including the Eastern Shore
via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
, however, unlike the rest of US 50/301 in the area, the bridge lacks shoulders
and is often a point of traffic congestion
.
built in the late 1920s. The bridge served as part of Maryland Route 2
and later U.S. Route 50
after the later route was extended across the Chesapeake Bay
. (This original bridge was replaced with the current Naval Academy Bridge
in 1994.) When the John Hanson Highway was built, the current Severn River Bridge was built to carry it across the river. Originally, the bridge carried only 4 lanes, but was later expanded to 6 when the surrounding parts of the highway were upgraded, leaving the bridge without shoulders http://www.dcroads.net/roads/I-595_MD/. The Severn River Bridge was officially renamed the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in December 2006 in honor of the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
that crosses the Severn River
Severn River (Maryland)
The Severn River runs through Anne Arundel County in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located south of the Magothy River, and north of the South River.-Geography:...
northwest of the city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
of Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. The bridge serves as part of the John Hanson Highway, which is signed as U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
and U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
. Maryland Route 2
Maryland Route 2
Maryland Route 2 is the longest state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from Solomons Island in Calvert County north to an intersection with U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 40 Truck in Baltimore...
also traverses the bridge, but no Maryland Route 2 signs exist along the section of highway the route traverses. Route 2 splits off US 50/301 east of the bridge and becomes Governor Ritchie Highway, and to the west it leaves the highway along Solomons Island Road. The bridge serves as the main connection between Annapolis and points east, including the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the more urban Western Shore. The original span opened in 1952 and, at the time, with a length of , it was the world's longest...
, however, unlike the rest of US 50/301 in the area, the bridge lacks shoulders
Shoulder (road)
A hard shoulder, or simply shoulder, is a reserved area by the verge of a road or motorway. Generally it is kept clear of motor vehicle traffic...
and is often a point of traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
.
History
The first road bridge across the Severn River was a drawbridgeBascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
built in the late 1920s. The bridge served as part of Maryland Route 2
Maryland Route 2
Maryland Route 2 is the longest state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from Solomons Island in Calvert County north to an intersection with U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 40 Truck in Baltimore...
and later U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 in Maryland
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. In the U.S. state of Maryland, US 50 exists in two sections. The longer of these serves as a major route connecting...
after the later route was extended across the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. (This original bridge was replaced with the current Naval Academy Bridge
Naval Academy Bridge
The U.S. Naval Academy Bridge is a bridge that crosses the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. It is located downriver from the Severn River Bridge and adjacent to the United States Naval Academy...
in 1994.) When the John Hanson Highway was built, the current Severn River Bridge was built to carry it across the river. Originally, the bridge carried only 4 lanes, but was later expanded to 6 when the surrounding parts of the highway were upgraded, leaving the bridge without shoulders http://www.dcroads.net/roads/I-595_MD/. The Severn River Bridge was officially renamed the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in December 2006 in honor of the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.