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1.7-mile project to last nearly four years
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) construction project to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge is scheduled to start this week, authorities said (weather permitting). The project follows the tragic collapse of the bridge on March 26, 2024, when a large cargo ship lost electrical power and crashed into the structure, resulting in the deaths of six road workers.
According to the MDTA, initial preconstruction activities will include surveying, scanning the riverbed, and collecting soil samples. These steps will lay the groundwork for the extensive rebuilding, which is expected to reopen the bridge for traffic in the fall of 2028.
In this 2024 file photo, damage to the Francis Scott Key Bridge is seen from an aerial view, with the cargo ship still at the Baltimore-area scene on the Patapsco River. Image: Maryland Transportation Authority
The Maryland construction project will replace the 1.7-mile-long bridge on I-695 / MD 695 that crosses the Patapsco River. The rebuild is projected to cost approximately $2 billion. According to the Baltimore Banner, the MDTA awarded Kiewit a $73 million contract to design and build the new Key Bridge.
A conceptual image from the plans submitted by the Maryland Transportation Authority to the US Coast Guard for rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Image: US Coast Guard
Demolition of the existing structure is set to begin in the spring.
As the MDTA prepares for the upcoming work, officials emphasize the importance of safety and efficiency throughout the project.
Officials said the rebuild aims to restore critical transportation routes and enhance the new bridge’s structural integrity and safety features.
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