Crossing the Harry Nice Bridge From King George: What Changed

Quick answer: The Harry Nice Bridge on Route 301 between Dahlgren and Newburg, Maryland, was replaced in 2022 (MDTA). The new span has four lanes instead of two, a median barrier and cashless tolling. Tolls are still collected only southbound, coming into Virginia, and an E-ZPass Maryland account gets the lowest rate and a commuter plan.

If you live in King George, or you're thinking about buying there, the Potomac crossing at Dahlgren is your direct route into Southern Maryland. The bridge you'll drive today is not the one many longtime residents remember. Here's what changed and what it costs.

The new bridge at a glance

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) opened the new Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge on October 12, 2022. MDTA describes it as a 1.7-mile, four-lane bridge on Route 301 spanning the Potomac River from Newburg, Maryland, to Dahlgren (MDTA).

MDTA's side-by-side comparison is the clearest way to see the change. The new bridge has four 12-foot-wide lanes where the old one had two 11-foot-wide lanes. It adds a barrier-separated median and two-foot-wide shoulders, where the old span had neither. And all tolls are now paid at highway speeds, instead of cash tolls paid while stopped (MDTA).

The new bridge also has a 135-foot clearance for tall ships, and the project was a $463 million design-build job (MDTA). The original two-lane span opened in December 1940 (MDTA). MDTA began taking it down in fall 2022 and said the full structure would come down by the end of 2024 (MDTA).

What the toll costs

MDTA collects the toll in the southbound direction only (MDTA). Heading north into Maryland, you don't pay at the bridge. Coming home to King George, you do.

For a regular two-axle car, MDTA lists a toll of $4.50 with E-ZPass Maryland, $6 with an E-ZPass from another state, $6 by Pay-By-Plate and $9 by video toll. The E-ZPass Maryland commuter plan works out to $2.10 per trip (MDTA).

There's no toll booth to stop at. MDTA's FAQ says you pay at highway speed with an E-ZPass Maryland transponder or by video tolling, and it strongly encourages E-ZPass because the rates are lower (MDTA).

Which E-ZPass to carry

This is the detail that surprises a lot of Virginia drivers. MDTA's table lists the out-of-state E-ZPass rate for a car at $6, compared with $4.50 for E-ZPass Maryland (MDTA). A transponder from a Virginia account works, but it pays the higher rate at this bridge.

If you'll cross often, look at the commuter plan. MDTA says it's available to customers with valid E-ZPass Maryland accounts driving two-axle vehicles. The plan costs $52.50 for 25 trips and ends after 45 days or when the trips are used up, whichever comes first. MDTA puts the break-even at 12 trips compared with the regular E-ZPass Maryland toll (MDTA). Because you only pay southbound, 25 trips cover 25 round trips.

Bicycles on the bridge

Bikes are a newer option on this crossing. MDTA says that since June 10, 2023, bicyclists may cross between Newburg and Dahlgren from dawn to dusk on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays (MDTA). Check MDTA's bicyclist FAQ before you ride.

What it means if you live in King George

Route 301 runs north through King George to the bridge, and south toward Port Royal in Caroline, so the Dahlgren end of the county has the shortest drive to the crossing. Most of the rest of the county reaches Route 301 by way of Route 3. If you work or shop in Southern Maryland, test the drive at your real hours and budget for the southbound toll on every trip home. If your job is in Fredericksburg or along I-95, Route 3 is the road that matters more, and my King George to Fredericksburg via Route 3 guide covers that drive. My Dahlgren area guide covers the roads and housing near the Virginia end of the bridge.

FAQ

Which direction is the Harry Nice Bridge toll collected?

MDTA collects the toll in the southbound direction only, so you pay when you cross from Maryland into Virginia, not when you head north (MDTA).

How much is the Harry Nice Bridge toll for a car?

For a two-axle car, MDTA lists $4.50 with E-ZPass Maryland, $6 with another state's E-ZPass or Pay-By-Plate and $9 by video toll (MDTA).

Is there a commuter discount on the Nice Bridge?

Yes. E-ZPass Maryland account holders with two-axle vehicles can buy a $52.50 plan for 25 trips that ends after 45 days or when the trips are used (MDTA).

Can you ride a bike across the Harry Nice Bridge?

Yes, on a schedule. MDTA allows bicyclists to cross from dawn to dusk on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays, starting from June 10, 2023 (MDTA).

Thinking about a move to King George?

I'll help you weigh the bridge, Route 3 and Route 301 drives against the homes you're considering, so your commute fits before you buy. Start with my King George County page, or if you need to sell first, see my selling page. Call or text me at (540) 300-4967.

Ron Chronister, REAL Broker