Harry W. Nice/Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge Replacement

Frequent congestion and safety concerns plagued the original Harry W. Nice/Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge. The narrow, two-lane span lacked a median barrier, causing dangerous head-on collisions and traffic bottlenecks, particularly for wide-load vehicles requiring full closures.

The 1.7-mile-long, two-lane bridge, which carries approximately 18,000 vehicles daily and spans the Potomac River from Newburg, Md., to Dahlgren, Va., was no longer sufficient to meet modern transportation needs. The existing bridge had to be closed from both approaches to accommodate wide loads and allow for the safe passage of oversized cargo.

The Governor Harry W. Nice/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge replacement features a new bridge span measuring 135 feet in height and 61 feet in width, a center median, and four 12-foot-wide lanes. This $462.9 million bridge upgrade accomodates traffic growth and wide-load vehicles, improving safety for Maryland and Virginia drivers. The new bridge opened to traffic in October 2022.

Our firm provided construction management and inspection services for the innovative bridge design, which incorporated efficient and cost-effective span lengths while addressing structural performance, constructability, and maintainability considerations. Through careful planning and coordination, our project team helped MDTA achieve several key milestones:

• Opened nearly three months ahead of schedule.
• Saved MDTA more than $37 million.
• Enhanced aesthetics while lowering long-term maintenance costs.

The project’s environmental stewardship was a top priority. Key sustainability measures included:

• Reusing 18,000 cubic yards of Potomac River sediment to restore over 100 acres of agricultural fields and wildlife habitats at the Weanack Reclamation site.
• Recycling 100% of the steel from the original bridge and repurposing 9,500 tons of concrete for an artificial reef to enhance aquatic biodiversity.
• Creating a newly seeded oyster bed on the 148-acre Lower Cedar Point Bar, advancing Maryland’s clean water goals by planting nearly 12 million live oysters, which can filter 50 gallons of water daily and improve water quality for aquatic life.

By integrating sustainability into the construction process, the bridge project not only improved regional mobility but also contributed to marine ecosystem restoration in the Potomac River.