Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge
| Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 38°21′42″N 76°59′36″W / 38.3618°N 76.9934°WCoordinates: 38°21′42″N 76°59′36″W / 38.3618°N 76.9934°W |
| Carries | 2 lanes of  US 301
|
| Crosses | Potomac River |
| Locale | Dahlgren, Virginia and Newburg, Maryland |
| Maintained by | Maryland Transportation Authority |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Continuous truss bridge |
| Total length | 1.7 miles (2735 m) |
| Longest span | 800 ft (240 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | December 1940 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | $6.00 (southbound) per two-axle vehicle beginning July 1, 2013; E-ZPass accepted |
The Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge, also known as the Potomac River Bridge, is a 1.7-mile (2.7 km), two-lane continuous truss bridge that spans the Potomac River between Newburg in Charles County, Maryland and Dahlgren in King George County, Virginia, United States. The bridge is narrow (one 11-foot (3.4 m) lane in each direction with no shoulders), steep (up to 3.75 percent grade), and has a reduced speed limit (50 mph on the main span, even slower through the toll gates and plaza). By contrast, the approach roads on both sides of the bridge feature four 12-foot (3.7 m) lanes (2 in each direction), full shoulders, and 55 mph speed limits. This combination forces vehicles to slow and merge as they cross the bridge, which often results in backups.
This two lane bridge carries U.S. Route 301, which is a spur of U.S. Route 1 and a popular north-south alternative for bypassing the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and its frequently congested roads such as Interstate 95, Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway), and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the north along the Potomac River. The traffic growth/volume in Southern Maryland has led to congestion and delays, especially on holidays and weekends. In 2005, the bridge handled approximately 6.4 million vehicles, with a daily average of approximately 17,500.
It is one of eight toll facilities operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority, and is one of two toll bridges over the Potomac River. The other, the Oldtown Low Water Toll Bridge, is privately owned and located well upstream.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge in 1939. Known as the Potomac River Bridge when opened in December 1940, the bridge was renamed in 1967 for Harry W. Nice (1877–1941) who served as governor of Maryland from 1935 to 1939. The bridge was the first south of Washington, DC to provide a highway link between Maryland and Virginia.
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