This changes everything

I wonder if the designers of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge realized just how much of an affect it would have on Maryland's Eastern Shore when they first started thinking about it in the early 1900's? Did they buy property in Ocean City and load up a cryogenic freezer with shrimp, crabs and Old Bay? The first span was completed in 1952. The second span was completed in 1973 allowing a total of 5 lanes of traffic that could be used in either direction. It has definately changed the Eastern Shore by spawning numerous "bedroom" communities for people who work "on the other side" and allowing millions of people to flock to the beaches on summer weekends.

Travelling eastbound on the older 2 lane span.

Each span is about 4.3 miles long. The older 2 lane span was recently repainted at a cost that is said to have been greater than the original price of construction. When they sandbasted it prior to painting, they hung collection bags around and under the work area to collect all the sand and old paint so it wouldn't fall into the bay.

One of the many bedroom communities that has sprung up next to agricultural fields.

We moved to the Eastern Shore when I was employed by Southern States, an Ag Co-op. It was a nice place to live and raise a family. Since then I have changed careers and have become one of the daily commuters across the bridge to the "dark side". In the 11 years that I have been doing this, I estimate that I have crossed the bridge approximately 5700 times and spent $5700 on tolls. But unfortunately job opportunities on "the shore" and limited and don't pay well.

This is me next to my old communter car. The amazing Honda Civic. I was going for an endorsement offer here, but discovered that I wasn't the only one that drove one of these cars to 430,000 miles. It also survived a 15 mph glancing kiss by the Bay Bridge railing and a head-on with a straw bale at 60 mph.

One interesting effect of the increased population of non-natives: they out voted the natives. Farming and land owner rights have always been important to long time Eastern Shore residents. But this past fall, the "foreigners" shot down the farming initiatives at the polls. If you're old family born and raised here, that has got to hurt.

The low cost, high quality of life here are hard to give up. I'll just continue the crazy commute. For now.