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Key Scott bridge collapse: New designs unveiled
Eleven months after the Baltimore Key Bridge collapsed, designs have been revealed for the new construction project.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled the new design concept for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild on Tuesday.
Moore unveils bridge design
Moore said that the new design honors the architectural tradition of the original bridge and will also be Maryland's first highway cable-stayed bridge.
Moore added that the new bridge would be constructed according to improved industry standards and infrastructure design practices. Construction could be completed in 2028 and cost more than $1.7 billion.
New Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge design unveiled
Tragic bridge collapse
On March 26, 2024, a massive container ship lost power and crashed into one of the supporting columns of the original bridge, leading to its collapse. The tragic incident claimed the lives of six construction workers who were filling potholes when the structure gave way.
The collapse caused Baltimore’s port to shut down for several months, significantly impacting the local economy and creating increased traffic congestion that continues to affect drivers across the region.
When the original bridge opened to traffic in 1977, it connected communities around Baltimore by and served as the final link of Interstate 695, known locally as the Baltimore Beltway. The outer crossing of the Baltimore Harbor allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown.
New Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge design unveiled
New Key Bridge features
According to KeyBridgereBuild.com, the new Key Bridge features would include:
Two 12-ft Lanes in each direction / 10-ft wide outside shoulders and 4-ft wide inside shoulders per direction of travel
Total Bridge length more than 2 miles
230-foot minimum clearance from water to bridge deck above the federal channel
Two bridge towers more than 600 feet tall
Distance between main span pylons exceeding 1,600 feet
Total length of cable-stayed main span exceeding 3,300 feet
Expected life span of 100 years
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Office of Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the website KeyBridgereBuild.com.