NASA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023 includes funding to make the necessary repairs to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway bridge that has been closed since September 2021, but the project could take up to two years and is expected to cost $7.5–$10 million.
Bridge Closure
The bridge entrance to Goddard Space Flight Center has been closed since the afternoon of September 16, 2021, when the driver of a flatbed transport vehicle carrying a small excavator misjudged their height and crashed their equipment into its underside. One person was transported from the scene by ambulance and traffic was stalled for hours. NASA closed the bridge indefinitely the following day, awaiting the assessment of Federal Highway Administration (FHA) engineers and repairs.
Goddard Employee Access
The exit off the Parkway, located between Powder Mill Road and Route 193, was a full-service exit available only to badged NASA employees. Employees could avoid some local congestion and take a direct route into the campus. The southbound return from Goddard via the bridge allowed commuters from Greenbelt Center to get to Southway while passing through only one light. The entrance also enabled commuting by bike via Northway to get to Goddard when the bridge was open.
Community Impact
In addition to affecting those who work at the Goddard campus, the bridge closure has impacted the community more broadly by adding thousands of cars to local roads during rush hour. A representative at Goddard told the News Review that the continued closure of the bridge had been a point of contention with the city and county because of the increased traffic on Greenbelt Road, a frustration echoed by some residents. Mark Hanyok, who lives in Greenbelt Center, says he has seen a lot of issues on the roads since the closure, “mostly northbound, often at rush hour” and he doesn’t believe it’s a coincidence. “As a commuter, if there’s an extra 5,000 cars driving up and down Greenbelt Road – it’s an issue for all Greenbelters,” he told the News Review.
In Design Phase
It’s been over a year since any updates on the bridge were shared, but with funding now earmarked the slow process of repairing and reopening can begin. Paul Bull, chief of the Facilities Management Division at Goddard, reported that the project is now in the design phase with the FHA. The design is expected to be completed in April and the construction award is anticipated in July. Unfortunately, reopening could still be a long way off. The project is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
The closed gates at the Goddard exit to the BW Parkway. Barricades help prevent any attempts to enter the campus from the Parkway.