Chesapeake Bay Bridge back open after traffic halted for hours due to high winds
BALTIMORE -- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is back open after traffic was halted for hours because of high winds.
MDTA says the bridge is open "under limited wind restrictions."
MDTA says wind gusts reached up to 55 mph.
The Bay Bridge traffic was impacted by a hazardous storm that brought strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to Maryland.
The MDTA announced "full wind restrictions" a little before 3 p.m. Only automobiles, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, commercial buses, and heavy-laden tractor/trailers were allowed to cross the bridge under the restrictions.
Wind restrictions are issued when wind speeds exceed 50 miles per hour for 10 minutes or more or when wind gusts persistently exceed 50 miles per hour over a period of 15 minutes, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority's website.
At that point, people with automobiles, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, commercial buses and heavy-laden tractor/trailers are permitted to cross the bridge.
Any other vehicles could be negatively impacted by high winds, transportation authorities said. That includes tractor-box trailer combinations that weigh less than 64,000 pounds, according to the website.
