Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse Could Impact Spring Break Travel through Maryland

With detours now up after the Tuesday morning collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, AAA is urging Spring Break travelers who have plans to travel to or through the Baltimore area to double check their plans.

“The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has shut down a vital artery for travelers getting around and through the Baltimore metro area,” says Jana Tidwell, AAA Mid-Atlantic Spokesperson. “According to MDTA, more than 30,000 vehicles used that bridge every day. Those drivers will now be looking for alternate routes.”
Maryland Transportation officials urge drivers to use I-95 and I-895 as alternate routes. Spring Break travelers going both north and south along the corridor could find more backups than normal as commuter, holiday traffic, and trucking/freight traffic shift to the alternate routes.

AAA recommendations for Spring Break travelers:

• Double check your route, plan out a re-route if needed. AAA’s TripTik App can help you plan out alternate routes.
• Travel during off-peak hours (late night, overnight between am and pm commutes) to avoid high congestion time periods.
• Have a passenger monitor news, social media, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority for updates on backups and delays in the region and modify your route if needed.
• Fill your tank before entering the region to make sure you don’t run low if there are slowdowns or delays.
• Slow down, avoid distractions, extend following distances, and be on the lookout for slowdowns.
Based on historical trends, most vacationers for the spring and summer holidays travel by car. Florida and its warm weather destinations including the Orlando area, Gulf and Atlantic beaches, and cruise ports are a popular destination for many. Based on February AAA hotel bookings that were up 30% over 2023, New York City is also high on the spring destination list as well. Spring Break travelers to both destinations could be navigating the busy I-95 corridor through Maryland.

“The impact of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse will be felt throughout the region for some time to come,” says Tidwell. “Those planning road trips beyond Spring Break and into the summertime will need to be aware of this situation and plan out route options with the potential for backups in mind.”

This post was originally published on this site