Overview
- The Maryland Transportation Authority told reporters Wednesday that 80 of the 90 eight‑foot‑diameter foundation piles have been installed in the Patapsco River to support the new cable‑stayed main span.
- Engineers said the piles measure roughly 200 to 230 feet long with about 1.5‑inch steel walls, and they are sized larger than the old bridge to carry greater loads.
- State leaders have moved away from a single Phase 1 contractor after a cost dispute with Kiewit and are splitting work into four contracts to seek new bidders and boost competition.
- Bidding opened this week for the second contract, which covers demolition and debris removal, and officials say Kiewit is scheduled to finish remaining pile work by early spring 2027.
- The project remains estimated in the $4.2 billion to $5.3 billion range and officials warn that final schedule certainty depends on incoming contractor proposals and the timing of contract awards.