The reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge took a major step forward Wednesday as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, issued a permit for its rebuild.
The approval grants the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) the ability to move forward with replacing the bridge, which connected the Interstate 695 Beltway before its collapse last year.
The announcement comes just weeks before the one-year anniversary of the tragic March 26, 2024, incident, when the cargo ship Dali struck the bridge, causing it to fall into the Patapsco River.
Six construction workers lost their lives in the disaster.
“Less than one year after the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore District is proud to have provided fair and efficient permitting efforts to enable the construction of a new bridge,” said Col. Francis Pera, commander of the Baltimore District, in a statement.
Geotechnical investigations are ongoing, with test pile operations, pier demolition, and trestle construction set to begin this summer, according to the Army Corps.
In-water construction is expected to commence by early fall 2025. The project will also require additional permit verification from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told WTOP the estimated cost of the new bridge is nearly $2 billion, with completion expected by 2028.
Source: WTOP News, Yahoo News
