Key Bridge project in Maryland moves forward in design and construction
Upon the two-year anniversary of the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) are making key efforts to replace the bridge. In January, Gov. Moore had a productive meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy on the acceleration of the project.
According to the MDTA, the new Key Bridge will feature a cable-stayed design, with a 1,665-foot main span. Learning from the past tragedy, the bridge will also include 230 feet of vertical clearance to accommodate cargo ships. While the design is not yet complete, a milestone expected in June, Gov. Moore pointed out large infrastructure projects like these take years to permit and approve.
“Getting to a 70% design-build can take up to 5 to 7 years,” Moore said. “This extraordinary team got it done in 14 months. And so, there’s been a historic speed that we’ve been able to move at, but we have not at all had to compromise safety.”
The bridge is expected to open in 2030. The cost of the new bridge is currently estimated around $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion.
“We remain committed to rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge with intentionality, speed and safety,” Moore said. “I’ll work with anybody to make sure we see that happen.”
Photo Credit: MDTA
