Maryland transportation officials share updates on Key Bridge rebuild during virtual meeting
Maryland residents heard updates on Tuesday and weighed in on the effort to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge during a virtual meeting hosted by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).
The meeting came about a week after federal transportation officials raised concerns about the updated cost and timeline to rebuild the bridge.
Virtual Key Bridge meeting
MDTA said the Francis Scott Key bridge will cost more because of the advanced pier protection system, making the bridge wider and taller over the federal channel, and rising inflation.
The state says it is spending $1 billion on pier protections alone to avoid another collapse.
"In just 14 months, our dedicated Key Bridge rebuild team has achieved progress that typically takes seven years for projects of this scale," said Bruce Gartner, the executive director of the MDTA.
In November, MDTA changed the estimated cost from $2 billion to between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion. They also said the project would be completed by 2030 rather than 2028.
MDTA said new data and information from pre-construction led to higher cost estimates and an extended timeline for the construction of the new Key Bridge.
Pier protections, a higher and longer main span, and inflation all drove up the cost.
"Specifically, the enhanced pier protection system is over a billion dollars to meet federal guidelines with protective fenders designed larger than a football field," Gartner said. "The cost of the Key Bridge rebuild is on par with other projects; however, the project is moving on a much more compressed schedule."
The new Key Bridge design will mirror the old bridge with wider shoulders. The design will be completed next year, while demolition and the test pile program for the bridge foundation continue.
Meanwhile, local businesses continue to endure higher costs. Alternate routes cost more for trucking companies working in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
"It obviously is going to be continued pain for our membership, continued challenges with regards to mileage increases, time increases, maintenance wear and tear, but we are all going to have to learn to live with it as we have for the last year and a half," said Louis Compton, the President of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.
Shortly after the increased cost to rebuild the bridge was announced, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would meet with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to discuss his concerns.
The governor's office said Tuesday that it is working with Duffy's team to schedule the meeting.
Rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge
Key Bridge design efforts started in the fall of 2024, and it will continue through spring 2026. Approximately 70% of the design is completed.
Preconstruction started in the winter of 2024. Demolition began last July and will continue until early 2026. The test pile program started in October and will end next year.
Want to start pylon foundation construction and trestle construction
The new Key Bridge will be more than two miles long and will have two 12-foot lanes going in each direction, according to the MDTA.
The bridge will have a 230-foot clearance above the federal channel and will have an expected lifespan of 100 years, officials said.
Funding for the project was included in the 2024 federal spending bill.