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Maryland transportation leaders approved a contract Aug. 29 for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge several months after the 1.6-mi-long steel span collapsed into the Patapsco River under the impact of a massive container ship that lost power and crashed into one of its supporting columns.
In the immediate aftermath of the deadly March 26 collapse, state and federal officials quickly promised to rebuild the bridge — a longstanding Baltimore landmark and vital piece of transportation infrastructure.
According to the Associated Press, Maryland is eyeing a 2028 completion date and estimated the project would cost a total of $1.7 billion. As part of the effort, the replacement bridge would include significantly more pier protection to better defend against future wayward ships.
At its monthly meeting Aug. 29, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) board awarded a $73 million contract for the first phase of the project to Omaha, Neb.-based Kiewit Infrastructure, one of North America's largest and most respected engineering and construction firms.
The MDTA also owns assets like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and operates toll facilities across the state.
Bruce Gartner, the agency's executive director, said in an interview with the AP that the contract award signifies a big step forward in the recovery and rebuild process.
"This really represents such an order of magnitude bigger than all our previous milestones," he explained.
As part of the "progressive design build" contract, Kiewit will work alongside state engineers and designers to jointly produce the blueprints and then have exclusive rights to negotiate the building of the bridge.
Gartner noted that his agency hopes to release renderings of a preliminary design within the next few months to give the public an idea of what the new bridge will look like.
"We look forward to partnering with the Maryland Transportation Authority, many local subcontractors and suppliers, and our strong craft workforce to safely deliver and restore this vital transportation link in the city of Baltimore and the greater region," Kiewit said in a statement following news of the contract award.
In announcing their recommendation to the board, Maryland transportation officials said that Kiewit's proposal was ranked first for its technical content despite being more expensive than two other bids.
During the selection process, the MDTA looked at key staff members for each contractor and how they handled things like permits and risk management on previous projects, said Jim Harkness, the agency's chief engineer.
The rebuilding project's cost estimates should solidify in about six months once the team's designs are 50-60 percent completed, he said in speaking with the Baltimore Banner, when a "guaranteed maximum price" should become clear.
Bridge Replacement Just Latest Kiewit Project in Baltimore
MDTA officials said the Key Bridge replacement project will advance in two phases, with the first focusing on the design work and other necessary steps before construction begins, which could include demolition of the remaining pieces of the bridge that are still standing. Phase 1 is expected to be completed within a year.
Maryland officials have said the new bridge will be somewhat taller than the old one to accommodate ever-larger ships entering Baltimore's harbor, according to the AP.
As a result, Kiewit will design a structure with at least 230 ft. of clearance above Baltimore's main shipping channel in the Patapsco River, according to recent U.S. Coast Guard guidelines. Depending on the tide from nearby Chesapeake Bay, the collapsed bridge generally stood 185 ft. above the water's surface.
MDTA noted that the new structure's main span should also be 200 ft. longer than the previous bridge, which will mean the agency must demolish the remaining spans of the destroyed bridge and start from scratch.
Kiewit also will have "exclusive negotiating rights" for the second phase, the MDTA noted in a statement released after the board meeting.
With the new contract, the construction firm adds another high-profile Baltimore project to its portfolio. In February, Amtrak announced a $1 billion contract with a construction supergroup that includes Kiewit for work on the future Frederick Douglass Tunnel in West Baltimore, where it will bore two, multi-mile tunnel tubes for passenger rail.
One of Kiewit's more notable efforts in Baltimore was the Fort McHenry Tunnel under the city's harbor, which opened in 1985. More drivers have been using the tunnel since the bridge collapse eliminated one of three water crossings that allowed them to bypass the downtown area.
MDTA Made Herculean Effort to Get Contract Done So Quickly
The original Francis Scott Key Bridge took five years to construct and opened in 1977.
Its collapse last March killed six members of a road work crew who were filling potholes on the bridge when it came crashing down into the water below. Baltimore's busy port was closed for months after the accident and increased traffic congestion in the region remains a problem for drivers.
An FBI investigation is ongoing into the circumstances leading up to the collapse, including power outages experienced by the cargo ship Dali while it was still docked in Baltimore.
On the same day that Kiewit was awarded the bridge contract, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) board also approved a proposal to remit the proceeds from a recent $350 million insurance payout to the federal government, calling the decision a show of good faith as discussions continue about whether Washington will cover 100 percent of the cleanup and rebuilding costs.
The federal government generally picks up 90 percent of the tab and the state 10 percent when replacing disaster-damaged interstate highways and bridges, but the Biden administration and members of Maryland's congressional delegation are pushing congressional lawmakers to approve a complete reimbursement.
During the MDTA board's discussion over awarding the construction contract, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld thanked the agency's staff for decisive work in reaching the milestone as quickly as possible in light of the March tragedy.
In an interview with the Baltimore Banner, Gartner admitted it took significant daily effort from his staff and consultants to get the deal done only five months after the bridge collapsed.
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