The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) board of directors is prepared to update its financial forecast to include an updated cost estimate range for the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge of $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion.
On March 26, 2024, a 984-foot container ship called the Dali lost power, propulsion and steering and hit one of the bridge’s piers, causing the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River and killing six construction workers.
Preliminary estimates and a reconstruction timeline were made in April 2024. Material costs have increased approximately 72 percent since the initial estimate, according to the Federal Highway Administration. In addition, MDTA used preconstruction activities, updated datapoints and advanced design to update cost and schedule for the project.
The state has advanced upfront construction costs and has a pending lawsuit with the Dali’s owner and manager for damages caused by gross negligence. Any recovered funds will be used to reduce liability on the bridge’s reconstruction from the emergency fund. The federal government authorized more than $8 billion in American Relief Act money to respond to the emergency.
The design and preconstruction phases are nearly complete, construction is expected to begin in the coming months, and the bridge is expected to open to traffic in late 2030.