BALTIMORE – As Congress considers funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the state continues to make progress on replacing the structure that collapsed into the Patapsco River after being struck by a container ship on March 26.
Design work for the bridge’s reconstruction is underway and is expected to be completed early next year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. Demolition of the remaining Key Bridge structures is expected to begin in spring 2025, followed by construction. The planned delivery date is autumn 2028.
The design-build project to build a new bridge over the Patapsco River will likely cost at least $1.7 billion.
Here are some of the latest updates on the project.
Hurry to complete the financing
President Joe Biden pledged that the federal government would cover the cost of rebuilding the bridge, and he has called on Congress to make good on that nearly $2 billion promise.
Members of the Maryland delegation are working to secure funding before Dec. 19, when Congress begins its holiday recess.
The full financing of the Key Bridge is something that all members of the delegation support.
“That’s something we agree on,” said U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican representing the state in Washington, DC.
Rebuild to rely on the proposed trestle
MDTA and Kiewit Infrastructure Co., the design-builder selected by the state to complete the design and construction of the rebuild, have changed the construction approach of the rebuild project to include a temporary trestle over tidal water.
A joint review of the permit application was submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for approval.
The trestle is expected to improve safety in the construction zone by removing the temptation for boaters to push their way through ships and construction equipment, which can lead to accidents in the work zone, according to MDTA officials.
Trestle piles and mooring/template piles included in the revision of the joint permit application will increase the temporary impact on tidal waters by 0.22 hectares. The trestle will have a total surface area of 9.18 hectares in tidal waters.
It extends from the north and south shores and will temporarily be approximately 200 feet from the Corps of Engineers navigation channel. The proposed trestle will have a vertical clearance of 12 feet above mean high water and will require all boat traffic to pass through the Key Bridge area in the main navigation channel.
Museum project in progress
The Baltimore Museum of Industry, in partnership with the Baltimore Community Foundation, hosted an event Tuesday called “Labor + Innovation: Echoes From the Key Bridge.” The focus of the event was to reflect on the bridge collapse and its impact on the community.
“This project ensures that the experiences and resilience of these individuals are not only memorialized, but also serve as a reminder of the strength and unity that define Baltimore,” said Crystal Harden-Lindsey, vice president of community impact for BCF, in a statement.
“With initiatives like this, we want to uphold the legacy of those who shape our city, often behind the scenes, but always with a profound impact.”
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