MD Gains Federal Environmental Approvals In Key Bridge Rebuild

BALTIMORE, MD — Crucial federal environmental approvals for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore were granted Tuesday, Maryland officials said.

The Federal Highway Administration approved the bridge replacement work, deciding that because the new structure will be within the former bridge's right of way and have the same capacity of four travel lanes, it is unlikely to significantly impact community, natural or cultural resources, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The 984-foot container ship Dali on March 26 lost power and crashed into the Key Bridge, killing six road workers and costing over 1,100 port jobs. The National Transportation Safety Board on June 24 said two malfunctioning electrical breakers caused the initial blackout aboard the Dali.

“Securing this approval marks a major milestone in rebuilding the Key Bridge and reconnecting communities following the March 26 catastrophic collapse,” said MDTA Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This approval from the federal government formally gives MDTA the go ahead to move forward with plans to rebuild the Key Bridge.”

The MDTA said the project will have substantial positive transportation and socioeconomic impacts by restoring a critical link in the interstate system. Specifically, the Rebuild Project:

• will not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area;
• will not cause any relocations of people or businesses;
• will have no effect on travel patterns from pre-collapse conditions; and
• will not impact historic or park and recreational resources.

Engineering proposals for the $75 million contract are due to the MDTA on Aug. 19. The MDTA expects to award the contract in February 2025. This contract will have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal of 31.5%.

During the planning and design stages of the bridge rebuild, the MDTA said it will engage with the community. For more details on the rebuild efforts and where to find our team at upcoming community events, visit KeyBridgeRebuild.com.

In April, Baltimore filed a case in federal court seeking to hold the cargo ship's owner fully liable for the bridge collapse.

Both the city and county of Baltimore have hired law firms to represent the jurisdictions in the legal ramifications of the disaster. The FBI is also investigating potential wrongdoing.

The clean-up started March 30 and required nearly 1,600 workers at its height. The first of three temporary alternate channels for shallow-draft vessels opened on April 2. Recreational boats were allowed to return on May 9.

On May 13, controlled explosives freed the Dali from a 10-million-pound Key Bridge segment atop its bow.

All ships have been able to return to the port using a 400-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel since May 20. That's when crews refloated and relocated the Dali after it was grounded for 55 days.

Crews on June 4 removed the last large hunk of bridge wreckage blocking the Patapsco River. They later conducted surveys and recovered smaller debris before reopening the full channel on June 10.

The May 20 partial channel reopening beat the state's initial target of May 31, but the June 10 full reopening missed that goal slightly.

Commerce leaders think port traffic will rebound quickly, but they warned that the trucking industry will suffer until the bridge is rebuilt.

Officials estimated that the new crossing will open by fall 2028 and cost up to $1.9 billion. President Joe Biden (D) promised that the federal government would pay for the entire project.

Related:

• Key Bridge Collapse Survivor Relives Fall, Deaths Of Co-Workers, 'All The Time': Report
• Dali Blackout Caused By 2 Malfunctioning Breakers: MD Key Bridge Crash
• Dali Leaves Baltimore, Bay Bridge Closes During Voyage To VA
• Baltimore Channel Reopens Fully 11 Weeks After Ship Topples Key Bridge
• Port Of Baltimore Back To Full Force, MD Truckers Still Struggling
• 'You're Alive': Baker Among Last Drivers On Key Bridge Before Collapse
• Biden Views Key Bridge Collapse: 'Your Nation Has Your Back'
• Jobs In Limbo, Supply Chain Resilient After Baltimore Bridge Collapse
• 'I Didn't Think It Was Real': Residents React To Key Bridge Collapse