Crews have begun to dismantle the obsolete Nice Memorial-Middleton Bridge structure in southern Maryland, WBAL reports. The two-lane span was replaced with a four-lane bridge equipped for all-electronic tolling that opened in October 2022. A coalition of cycling and trail advocacy groups had sought to preserve the old bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians, after a dedicated lane for walkers and bikers was removed from the new bridge’s design. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) countered that leaving the old bridge in place would be costly and pose a safety risk due to erosion around its foundation. A federal judge in October ruled that the demolition could proceed, and crews began their work on Tuesday, March 21.
