Bridge Replacement: Carroll Road residents face four-year wait for new span

A collapsed crossing in northern Baltimore County has forced daily commuters onto a lengthy alternate route, a situation that residents say is growing increasingly difficult to tolerate. The closure stems from the failure of a 147-year-old structure that stood over a stream flowing into the Big Gunpowder Falls.

County officials estimate the rebuilding project will cost approximately $5 million and require four years to complete. Construction is not scheduled to begin until at least 2030, with the new bridge expected to be finished between summer 2030 and spring 2031.

Linda Woolf, 73, who lives near the former site, criticized the extended timeline. "It just seems wasteful and misguided for the county to be in the design stage, as they said, for three-plus years and then start construction," Woolf said. "There’s got to be a better way."

The original single-lane metal truss bridge was built in 1879 and is listed on the Maryland Historical Trust’s Historic Bridge Inventory. In October 2025, a tree fell against the structure, compromising its integrity. The bridge subsequently collapsed when a septic truck crossed it. Police determined the truck was not at fault, and no injuries were reported.

The Department of Public Works and Transportation secured $830,000 in federal funding for the initial design phase. Spokesman Ron Snyder explained that the department must now apply for additional funds, solicit design contractors, and review environmental regulations. "We know that this is a process that’s longer than many residents would like it to be," Snyder said. "Unfortunately, a project like this takes time. We’re working as quickly as possible."

A point of contention is the bridge's width. Current design codes call for two lanes, but residents argue that a single lane is sufficient for the rural road. Fran Burns, 68, who helped organize a September town hall meeting, stated that a two-lane structure would extend the timeline and increase traffic. "We don’t want a two-lane bridge. We don’t need it," Burns said. Snyder noted that the county is considering all options after hearing community concerns.

Before the collapse, the state highway administration recorded 2,485 vehicles on the 0.10-mile stretch of Carroll Road. Traffic peaked at 5 p.m. with 303 vehicles traveling northbound. Now, drivers must navigate an eight-mile detour. Burns said the change has added at least 20 minutes to her trips and increased congestion on Sparks Road.

Local business owners also feel the impact. Marcia Bryant, 68, manages Roseda Farm, a beef cattle operation just north of the bridge. She reported that fewer new customers visit the store because of the travel time. "I’ll have people call and say, ‘You know, I can’t come now. It takes me an extra 25 minutes to get there. You’ve lost me as a customer for now,’” Bryant said.