[PAR] [TLE] Chesapeake Bay Bridge [SEP] The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (commonly known as the "Bay Bridge") is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland.  Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the urban Western Shore.  The original span, opened in 1952 and with a length of 4.3 mi , 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 finally after decades of political indecision and public controversy. [PAR] [TLE] Colonial Beach, Virginia [SEP] Colonial Beach is a town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States.  The population was 3,542 at the 2010 census.  Possessing the second-largest beachfront in the state, Colonial Beach was a popular resort town in the early to mid-20th century, before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made ocean beaches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland more accessible to visitors from Washington, D.C. The family of Alexander Graham Bell maintained a summer home in Colonial Beach, the Bell House, which still stands today.  Sloan Wilson, author of "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit", retired and died in Colonial Beach.  George Washington, the first President of the United States, was born near here at what is now the George Washington Birthplace National Monument.  s of 2011 , the James Monroe Family Home Site, birthplace of President James Monroe, now has a small monument to him.
[PAR] [TLE] Chesapeake Bay Bridge [ SEP ] The Chesapeake Bay Bridge ( commonly known as the " Bay Bridge " ) is a major dual - span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland . Spanning the Chesapeake Bay , it connects the state 's rural Eastern Shore region with the urban Western Shore . The original span , opened in 1952 and with a length of 4.3 mi , 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 finally after decades of political indecision and public controversy . [PAR] [TLE] Colonial Beach , Virginia [ SEP ] Colonial Beach is a town in Westmoreland County , Virginia , United States . The population was 3,542 at the 2010 census . Possessing the second - largest beachfront in the state , Colonial Beach was a popular resort town in the early to mid-20th century , before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge made ocean beaches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland more accessible to visitors from Washington , D.C. The family of Alexander Graham Bell maintained a summer home in Colonial Beach , the Bell House , which still stands today . Sloan Wilson , author of " The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit " , retired and died in Colonial Beach . George Washington , the first President of the United States , was born near here at what is now the George Washington Birthplace National Monument . s of 2011 , the James Monroe Family Home Site , birthplace of President James Monroe , now has a small monument to him .
What was the length of the original span of the bridge which made ocean beaches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland more accessible to visitors from Washington, D.C.?
What was the length of the original span of the bridge which made ocean beaches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland more accessible to visitors from Washington , D.C. ?
4.3 mi
4.3 mi