25-WL-1047​/26-WQC-0001/202561639​: The Maryland Transportation Authority has requested a Water Quality Certification for construction of pier protections at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The project will include construction of a protection system to the piers closest to the main navigation spans that accommodate inbound and outbound vessel traffic in the federal navigation channel. The protection structures are designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay Bridge against vessel impacts, mainly the four towers supporting the main spans of the Eastbound and Westbound Bay Bridges adjacent to the federal navigation channel. The total proposed permanent impacts are 147,280 square feet of fill (3.38 acres) within State tidal waters.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public about the proposed work and to announce the date of a Maryland Department of the Environment public informational hearing on the request for certification. At this time, no decision has been made as to whether a certification will be issued. Two public informational hearings will be held. One public informational hearing has been scheduled for the referenced project on Monday, April 20, 2026 at the Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold Campus, 101 College Pkwy, Arnold, MD 21012. An in-person poster session will be held from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM; the informational hearing will begin at 6:30 PM and end no later than 8:00 PM. A second public informational hearing has been scheduled on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, 1610 Main St, Chester, MD 21619.  An in-person poster session will be held from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM; the informational hearing will begin at 6:30 PM and end no later than 8:00 PM. Written comments will be accepted until April 30, 2026.‬