Designs For Key Bridge Replacement Unveiled By MD Leaders

SPARROWS POINT, MD — Ten months after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when hit by a cargo ship, killing six road workers, Gov. Wes Moore and other Maryland officials on Tuesday unveiled their designs for its replacement.

Construction of the state’s first cable-stayed bridge, which will be taller and better protected against ship strikes, could be completed in 2028 and cost more than $1.7 billion.

Officials said the new bridge will modernize Baltimore’s skyline, becoming a symbol of resilience, progress and economic growth. The design features two towers with cables radiating down to the deck.

“This is a great day for the state of Maryland,” Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “But it’s not lost on me that today’s triumph was born out of tragedy.”

The cargo ship Dali crashed into the bridge on March 26, 2024, after losing power and striking a Key Bridge support column. The crossing plunged into the Patapsco River below, killing six road workers, blocking the Port of Baltimore for months and forcing ongoing traffic strain on the Interstate 95 and 895 tunnels.

“Today, we take an important step toward recovering from the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that has affected not just Maryland’s economy, but the nation’s economy,” Moore said. “While we mark the unveiling of the new bridge design, we continue to honor the six Marylanders who lost their lives while serving our state, and their families who carry their legacy forward. Together, we will show the world what it means to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong.”

The original Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile steel span at the mouth of Baltimore’s harbor, took five years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It connected various port-oriented industrial communities around Baltimore and allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown.

The Dali suffered two electrical blackouts that led to major equipment failure hours before it struck the bridge, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

In the report, officials wrote that the Dali had experienced electrical problems the day before the collision. In the hours before the ship left the Port of Baltimore on a voyage to Sri Lanka, the ship lost power twice, causing the vessel to lose propulsion and the ability to steer.

According to officials, a mistake by a crew member working on a diesel engine part caused the first "in-port blackout." A second blackout in port was attributed to "insufficient fuel pressure," the report said.

Demolition of the remaining pieces will take place this spring, with construction of its replacement to follow, officials said Tuesday.

They held Tuesday’s news conference at Tradepoint Atlantic, a shipping hub in the Port of Baltimore that played a major role in cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse. The facility is revitalizing the site of a former Bethlehem Steel plant in the area as maritime shipping continues to fuel the regional economy.

“Maryland is a bridge between America and the rest of the world. We get cars from Michigan out to market. We bring sugars and spices to Louisiana. We haul farm equipment from the East Coast deep into the heartland,” Moore said. “Commerce and trade are the bedrock of our state, and we will continue to make investments that honor our tradition.”

In August, the state awarded a $73 million contract for the first phase of the rebuild to Kiewit Infrastructure, a major construction and engineering firm.

Officials said the project would advance in two phases, with the first focusing on the design work and other necessary steps before construction begins. Moore promised to “employ many Marylanders” throughout the process.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the design will include the latest in pier protection technology, which has become increasingly important as ships keep getting bigger and carrying more cargo. The bridge will also be taller to provide more clearance.

“While this is a beautiful bridge, it will also be a working bridge for a working city,” Wiedefeld said.

In one of Joe Biden's last acts as president, he signed a law ensuring the federal government will pay for the entire Key Bridge rebuild, rather than the typical 90% for most infrastructure disasters.

Pre-construction activities started in January 2025. Crews will demolish the remaining two approach ramps to the Key Bridge this spring, The Baltimore Banner reported.

The new bridge is expected to open in fall 2028 and cost up to $1.9 billion. Some of the costs are likely to be recovered via payouts from insurance and litigation against the ship owner.

Synergy Marine Group and ship owner Grace Ocean Private Ltd. agreed to pay over $100 million to reimburse the government for bridge cleanup efforts. Other lawsuits are still playing out.

The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released its final report on the collapse, though officials said a loose cable in the ship’s electrical switchboard likely contributed to its power issues. Federal agents boarded the cargo ship Dali amid a criminal investigation last year.

Contains reporting by the Associated Press.