Maryland Unveils Key Bridge Reconstruction Plan Two Years Post-Collapse
Maryland officials and local leaders gathered in Dundalk to mark two years since the Key Bridge collapse. The ceremony remembered lives lost and the disruption to the Patapsco River crossing.
Commemoration
Governor Wes Moore spoke at the water’s edge. He called the March collapse a day that changed the state.
Moore read the names of six construction workers who died. He described them as patriots and praised responders.
- Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49
- Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 49
- Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35
- Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26
- Carlos Daniel Hernández, 24
- Jose Lopez, 35
Rebuilding progress
Leaders provided an update on the reconstruction plan for the Key Bridge. Work is underway in the Patapsco River channel.
A 500-ton crane sits in the river. It is one of the largest cranes on the East Coast.
Pile driving and trestles
Engineers are driving large steel piles into the riverbed. Pile driving is continuous and audible from shore.
- Pile diameter: eight feet
- Length: more than 200 feet
- Wall thickness: 1.5 inches
- Approximate weight per pile: 350,000 pounds
James Harkness, lead engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority, said crews must reach solid soil. He noted challenging river conditions.
A temporary construction trestle is being erected from land. It will allow contractors safe access to the piles.
Schedule, scope and expectations
Officials say they completed channel clearing far faster than expected. What was projected at 11 months took 11 weeks.
Engineers contend they achieved five to seven years of work in 14 months. They have not released final cost figures.
In November, engineers hoped vehicles could cross a new bridge by the end of 2030. The state aims to refine estimates this summer.
The design phase will reach 100% completion in June. Final cost and schedule negotiations will follow soon after.
Federal coordination and leadership
Governor Moore met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in January. Duffy described the effort as one of the fastest-moving large infrastructure projects in the nation.
Moore said he intends to be the governor who cuts the ribbon when the Francis Scott Key Bridge reopens. He noted the container ship Dali struck the bridge during his tenure.
Filmogaz.com will continue to follow Maryland’s reconstruction plan and report on milestones in this post-collapse recovery.
