After decades in the works, the WB&A Trail Patuxent River Bridge is officially open, uniting Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties with a new path for hikers, cyclists, and runners. The bridge that opened to the public in May 2025 has not only linked nearly 13 miles of trail but also integrates three major national trail networks: the East Coast Greenway, the American Discovery Trail, and the 9/11 National Memorial Trail. The trail gap has finally been bridged, thanks to a collaborative effort highlighted in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and county officials.
Funding and planning for this bridge depict a timeline woven through multiple administrations and fiscal cycles, the master plan of which dates back to 1995, and a critical link was identified by the Maryland Department of Transportation in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2020 that a federal Transportation Alternatives Program award provided the construction funding needed, with ground broken in June 2023. "This bridge is proof of what happens when we work together across county lines," Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement obtained by Anne Arundel County's news release, celebrating the collaborative achievement.
The joint endeavor involved Anne Arundel County's Department of Recreation and Parks, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George's County, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the State Highway Administration, alongside provincial and federal partners. Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy told Anne Arundel County's news release, “This project exemplifies the power of strong partnerships,” a sentiment that underscores the collaborative spirit driving this project to completion.
