Pre-construction work on new Key Bridge will start in January, Maryland officials say

Dan Belson, The Baltimore Sun on Dec 23, 2024

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BALTIMORE — Crews will start surveying the Patapsco River and the land near the fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge in January to collect data for designing a new bridge, Maryland officials confirmed Monday.

The pre-construction work starting in January will include activities such as topographic surveys, underwater surveys and soil sampling, said Bradley Tanner, a Maryland Transportation Authority spokesperson.

A Coast Guard notice obtained by The Baltimore Sun alerts mariners to construction activity in the Patapsco River starting Jan. 7 through the state’s estimated completion of the new bridge in October of 2028.

The notice also mentioned “bridge demolition activities,” though Tanner noted demolition wasn’t expected until spring of 2025.

Tanner noted, though, that the schedules for work performed by Kietwit Infrastructure is “still being refined.” Kiewit, a Nebraska-based construction giant, was picked by state officials in August to build the new bridge.

Scott Petrie, a Kiewit project manager listed on the Coast Guard notice, acknowledged that the company was working on the replacement bridge project but referred further questions to the company’s public relations department.

A spokesperson for the construction firm referred questions to the transportation authority. The Coast Guard did not immediately return requests for comment.

The spending bill approved last week by a frenzied Congress authorized a commitment by the federal government to cover the cost of replacing the Key Bridge after it collapsed in March, killing six construction workers who were filling potholes.

Maryland officials say the rebuild could cost up to $1.9 billion, though at least some of the costs will be recouped through insurance payouts and litigation involving the Dali’s owners.

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Baltimore Sun Assistant Metro Editor Carson Swick contributed to this article.