Maryland has cancelled the $5 billion contract with Kiewit Infrastructure to replace the Francis Scott Key bridge. The decision by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) was made on grounds of cost.
The bridge collapsed in March 2024 when a large container vessel lost power and collided with it, resulting in a number of fatalities. The remains of the structure subsequently had to be demolished and removed.
The replacement project was originally expected to cost $1.8 billion but ballooned to more than $5 billion. The US Department of Transportation showed concern over the cost of the replacement project and the MTDA will now work with the Federal Highway Administration to find a new solution for the project.
The 2.6km Francis Scott Key Bridge carries I-695 and is a key transport link between New York City and Washington DC. The bridge was struck at around 1.30am by a 290m container vessel registered in Singapore, the Dali, which had been heading to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The bridge authorities were alerted to the potential collision by the crew on the vessel and were able to stop traffic from crossing but construction workers on the bridge were not able to escape in time and six were killed in the incident.
Baltimore is a busy port and the Patapsco River is a major thoroughfare for shipping. The bridge opened to traffic in 1977 and featured a high central section to allow large vessels to pass underneath. Although the bridge had been inspected and found to be in adequate condition structurally, it predated the current large container ships in use and did not feature sufficient protection against potential collisions such as the one that eventually caused its collapse.
