When Gephyrophobia Strikes, You Still Have to Cross the Bridge "I thought I was going to have a heart attack." The fear of bridges is real, and it can be paralyzing. But there are ways to get to the other side. BuyenlargeGetty Images Cathy McMahon was in her early 40s when she had a panic attack while driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Maryland bridge has a reputation for being frightening. But McMahon had been driving over it regularly since she was 17 and had never experienced even a moment of anxiety despite that it can be found on more than a few “scariest bridges” lists. At 4.3 miles, with narrow lanes, no shoulders, and low guardrails, it connects the Washington, DC, area with the Delaware and Maryland beaches on the Eastern Shore. At its highest point, the bridge spans rise to more than 200 feet over the bay below. As you drive, a gentle curve makes it looks like the road ahead just disappears—that there’s no end in sight.