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The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is the longest continuous-over-water steel structure that crosses the Chesapeake Bay.  The Bay is the longest esturay in the world strectching from Norfolk, Virginia to the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.  This bridge that is 4.5 miles long connects the Eastern and Western Shores of Maryland.  It connects Kent Island on the Eastern Shore to places on the Western Shore like Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.  There are two bridges that were built in 1952 and the second was built 21 years later in 1973 costing $148 million dollars.  One bridge takes traffic towards the Eastern Shore and the other takes the traffic to the Western Shore. Approximately 20 million vehicles cross the bridge yearly.  Before the
bridge was built the people traveled or crossed the Bay by ferry which took about two hours.  The Bay Bridge has made traveling from the Eastern Shore to the Western Shore of Maryland much easier.

Crossing the Bay Bridge you can spot wonderful, exciting, and interesting sights.  On a clear day, you can see miles and miles up and down the glistening, sparkling water of the Bay.  Freighters that carry cargo like TVs, stereos, and autos, might be heading to the port of Baltimore.  Sailboats, oyster boats, crabbing boats, tug boats, fishing boats, and speed boats can often be seen as you travel across the Bridge. Other sights are buoys, channel markers, and the Sandy Point and Baltimore lighthouses. You can also observe seagulls and osprey soaring
in the sky looking for fish like Bluefish or Rockfish.
 
 
 

On the western end of the Bridge you see where ferries use to pull in and pick up passengers and vehicles.  In the distance on the Western Shore you can also spot the US Naval Academy if you look closely.  From the Bridge these are some of the wonderful and spectacular sights you may see.

 
 

Crossing the Bay Bridge people experience different feelings.  The height of the Bridge can be frightful.  You might feel that your car is going to fall off the Bridge which is 186 feet high at its tallest point.  Others may feel excited as they cross the Bridge.  It makes some think about things such as how high is this bridge, how deep is the water, and where are all these people heading.

 The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is very important to Maryland.  It helps the economy, brings tourists, and most importantly brings the people of Maryland together.  If you haven't had the chance to cross this magnificent bridge, make sure to do so if you ever get the chance.