The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a major dual-span bridge spanning the Chesapeake Bay, and connecting the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the urban Western Shore. The original span, opened in 1952 and with a length of 6.9 km, was the world's longest continuous over-water steel structure. The parallel span was added in 1973. The bridge is officially named the Gov. William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge after William Preston Lane Jr. who, as the 52nd Governor of Maryland, initiated its construction in the late 1940s.
The bridge is part of U.S. Route 50 (US 50) and US 301, and serves as a vital link in both routes. As part of cross-country US 50, it connects the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area with Ocean City, Maryland, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and other coastal tourist resort destinations. As part of US 301, it serves as part of an alternative route for Interstate 95 travelers, between northern Delaware and the Washington, D.C., area. Because of this linkage, the bridge is busy and has become known as a point of traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours and summer months.
Because of its height, the narrowness of the spans (there are no hard shoulders), the low guardrails, and the frequency of high winds, it is known as one of the scariest bridges in the world, especially in higher tractor-trailer trucks. Several incidents have caused significant closures and traffic congestion on either side approaching the bridge. Besides, the bridge has been closed four times due to extreme weather.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Fauna-Frogs, about which I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the definitives series American Design (2002-2007), about which I wrote here.
The last stamp is part of the series Toys - Hot Wheels, issued on September 29, 2018, in celebration of Hot Wheels' 50th Anniversary. It showcase photographer Len Rizzi's images of 10 Hot Wheels cars speeding along the recognizable bright orange track. Each stamp features the name of the vehicle shown in one of the top corners and the words "USA" and "Forever" in one of the bottom corners. The well-known Hot Wheels logo appears in the top right corner of the pane. The back of the pane displays the Hot Wheels' 50th anniversary logo. William J. Gicker was the project’s art director, and Greg Breeding designed the stamps.
• Purple Passion (1990)
• Rocket-Bye-Baby (1971)
• Rigor Motor (1994)
• Rodger Dodger (1974)
• Mach Speeder (2018) - It's on the postcard 3448
• Twin Mill (1969)
• Bone Shaker (2006)
• HW40 (2008)
• Deora (1968)
• Sharkruiser (1987)
References
Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Wikipedia
Sender: Rae Ann / hetrickfamily (postcrossing) US-6549890
Sent from Baltimore (Maryland / United States), on 21.02.2020
Photo: David Harp
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