Preconstruction work to collect data for the design of a new Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is scheduled to begin in January. According to Maryland Transportation Authority spokesman Bradley Tanner, this work will include topographic and underwater surveys, as well as soil sampling. This activity, as announced in a Coast Guard notice, will take place in the Patapsco River from January 7th until the estimated completion of the new bridge in October 2028.
The existing bridge collapsed on March 26th after a container ship lost power and struck one of its supporting columns, resulting in the tragic deaths of six roadwork crew members. Demolition of the remaining structure is expected to begin in the spring, according to Jim Harkness, the Maryland Transportation Authority’s chief engineer.
The rebuilding project, awarded to the Kiewit Corporation of Omaha, Nebraska, in August, is anticipated to take nearly four years and cost approximately $2 billion.