Overview
- Maryland’s transportation authority revised its estimate to $4.3–$5.2 billion and now targets a late‑2030 opening, up from an initial $1.7–$1.9 billion projection with a 2028 goal.
- Officials attribute the higher price and longer schedule to sharply higher material costs, updated resilience standards, a longer cable‑stayed design, and a far larger pier‑protection system.
- Design has advanced to roughly 70% with Kiewit as the builder, demolition is underway, and crews have begun pre‑construction work including testing deep steel foundation elements.
- The rebuild qualifies for full federal Emergency Relief reimbursement, with Maryland advancing funds and applying insurance proceeds while pursuing damages from the Dali’s owner and operator to reduce taxpayer exposure.
- The NTSB board is voting on probable cause and safety measures focusing on the Dali’s multiple power losses before impact; the 2024 collapse killed six workers and halted Port of Baltimore shipping for months.