Permanent Foundations Taking Shape For New Key Bridge

BALTIMORE, MD — Construction of the new Francis Scott Key Bridge is entering a new, visible phase, with crews driving permanent piles to support the bridge's main span, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

State and local officials, community leaders, and members of the public got an up-close look at the work during boat tours Monday. The tours provided views of pile driving for the bridge foundations and construction of temporary overwater platforms.

Crews are driving permanent piles at the locations of the two main pylons, which will support the cable-stayed bridge's main span.

“These piles are permanent and are the beginning of the foundations for the cable-stayed bridge’s main span,” MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said.

Work is also continuing on temporary platforms, known as trestles, extending into the Patapsco River from both sides. The platforms are expected to be completed this fall and will provide workers with a way to safely move equipment, materials, and crews to the bridge's pier locations throughout construction.

Related:

• New Timeline Issued For Key Bridge Reconstruction
• MD Reaches Settlement With Owner, Operator Of Ship In Key Bridge Collapse
• Key Bridge Collapse: Criminal Charges Filed Against Dali Operator

House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who joined Monday's tour, said seeing the construction firsthand demonstrated the scale of the project.

“I saw so much more than steel and concrete today. I got a window into our future,” Peña-Melnyk said. “This bridge is a vital connection for our communities, our workers and our economy.”

A portion of the Key Bridge collapsed after it was struck by the container ship Dali, which suffered two electrical blackouts that led to major equipment failure hours before the collision.

The collapse killed six highway workers who were on the bridge patching potholes on Interstate 695 when the collision happened in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024.

Findings from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the bridge collapsed about 13 seconds after being struck. One worker described the impact of the Dali ship as a "crumbling thunder noise."

More than two years later, a rebuilding timeline expects the bridge to be restored by late 2030. The cost of rebuilding exceeds $5 billion.