Bay Bridge Eastbound Span to Close for Race
Drivers crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on November 8 should plan around a 14-hour eastbound closure tied to the Bay Bridge Run.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Running
Live Poll
Would you change your Sunday travel plans because of the Bay Bridge closure?
The eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge will close at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, November 8, to accommodate the 6.2-mile Bay Bridge Run. Traffic in both directions will be moved onto the westbound span, and the eastbound span is scheduled to reopen around 2 p.m., affecting drivers across Maryland's Eastern Shore and Western Shore travel corridors.
Why it matters
The closure lets runners and walkers cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for the annual Bay Bridge Run, an event that depends on a temporary reshuffling of traffic. For Maryland drivers, the practical stakes are time and routing: substantial delays are expected throughout Sunday, so planning around the closure window matters more than usual.
The closure timeline comes from Maryland Transportation Authority coordination with Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's counties, covering a 14-hour eastbound span shutdown tied to a 6.2-mile race. Officials recommend travelers leave before 6 a.m. or wait until after 6 p.m., and the exact extent of Sunday delays has not been quantified in the available information.
The players
Maryland Transportation Authority
The state agency that operates the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and coordinates its closures, lane shifts, and traffic management for major events.
Anne Arundel County
The Maryland county where the Bay Bridge Run starts and that coordinates the event with state transportation officials.
Queen Anne's County
The Maryland county where the race finishes and where local officials have warned of heightened law enforcement along the route.
The details
During the closure, eastbound and westbound traffic share the westbound span, with one lane carrying each direction and the center lane generally kept closed. The off-ramp from eastbound U.S. Route 50 to Maryland Route 8 and the on-ramp from Maryland Route 8 to westbound U.S. Route 50 are both closed, so eastbound Route 8 drivers are sent to the Thompson Creek Road exit and then westbound on Maryland Route 835. Queen Anne's County officials have also warned of increased law enforcement activity along the race route near Stevensville.
Timeline
The eastbound span closes at approximately 12:01 a.m. Sunday, November 8.
The recommended travel window before the closure begins at 6 a.m. Sunday, November 8.
The eastbound span is scheduled to reopen at approximately 2 p.m. Sunday, November 8, when race festivities conclude.
The recommended travel window after the closure begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, November 8.
Health Landscape
Organized races like the Bay Bridge Run give runners and walkers access to a major Maryland landmark that is normally closed to foot traffic. The closure pattern reflects how large community fitness events are staged on high-volume infrastructure with planned traffic management.
Runners and walkers planning to take part in the Bay Bridge Run should review the event's route and timing ahead of race day. Drivers who are not participating can avoid the worst delays by traveling before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on November 8, and can check real-time conditions before leaving.
The takeaway
The main insight is that a single Sunday closure can reshape traffic across two counties for most of the day. Before you drive that weekend, plan around the 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. travel windows and check real-time conditions.
What happens next
The eastbound span is scheduled to reopen around 2 p.m. Sunday, November 8, when the closure ends and race festivities conclude.
Further reading
For more on organized events like this one, explore our Running coverage.
More information
Check real-time Bay Bridge traffic conditions before you leave on November 8.
Live Poll
Would you change your Sunday travel plans because of the Bay Bridge closure?
