Harbor Tunnel Toll Plaza To Remain Closed Thursday Due To Health Scare; Drivers Told To Proceed Without Stopping

The toll plaza and administration building at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, closed since Tuesday, will remain closed Thursday while state and city health officials assess a Legionnaires' disease scare.

Two Maryland Transportation Authority employees were diagnosed with legionellosis. While both of them have been treated, health officials are at the toll plaza to determine where the bacterial pneumonia may have been present, MDTA officials said. State health officials took samples Wednesday morning.

“While there’s no confirmation that the building is the source of the illness, we believe the safety of our employees and visitors to the administration building dictates that we close the facility while tests are conducted,” Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn said in a statement.

E-ZPass lanes will operate as usual, but cash payment lanes will operate as video toll lanes. Drivers who normally pay with cash should keep moving, and they will be billed at the cash toll rate.

Employees who would normally work at the toll plaza were granted administrative leave.

“We hope for a speedy recovery for our two employees, and we’re working closely with health officials as we ensure the building environment is safe,” said MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports, in a news release on Tuesday night.

Legionella can grow and spread in man-made water systems. People who are 50 or older, are current or former smokers, or who have underlying illnesses or weak immune systems are at increased risk. Symptoms are similar to other types of pneumonia. They can include coughing and shortness of breath, but also other symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and confusion. Symptoms usually begin two to 10 days after exposure.