Maryland Unveils $1.7 Billion Design for Key Bridge Replacement

The new cable-stayed bridge, set to open by 2028, will modernize Baltimore's skyline and improve safety after the 2024 collapse killed six workers.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024 after a container ship lost power and struck a support column, killing six construction workers and disrupting the Port of Baltimore for months.
Maryland officials revealed plans for the replacement bridge, which will be the state’s first cable-stayed bridge, featuring a taller, longer design with enhanced protection against ship strikes.
The new bridge will cost an estimated $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion, with funding fully covered by a federal spending bill passed in December 2024.
Set to be completed by October 2028, the bridge will include two 12-foot lanes in each direction and increased vertical clearance to accommodate larger cargo ships.
Pre-construction activities such as soil sampling and underwater mapping have already begun, with demolition of the remaining structure scheduled for this spring.