The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has revised its estimate for reconstructing the Francis Scott Key Bridge, saying the project is now expected to cost between $4.3bn-$5.2bn, (£3.3bn-£4bn) with a targeted reopening to traffic in late 2030.
MDTA, which is working with the Federal Highway Administration, announced the revised range after advancing design work and pre-construction activities for the new cable-stayed bridge that will replace the steel arch-shaped continuous through truss bridge that collapsed in March 2024 after being struck by a container ship. The authority’s board is prepared to update its financial forecast to reflect the higher estimate.
The new projection marks a significant increase from the preliminary figures released in early May 2024, shortly after the collapse, when MDTA put the cost at $1.6bn-$1.9bn (now £1.2bn-£1.5bn) and estimated a four-year schedule. Those early numbers were based on limited information available in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
MDTA said the updated estimate reflects more detailed design data, higher materials and labour costs and the “pier protection” required for the modernised bridge. The main span of the new design has been lengthened to 507.5m (from the previous bridge’s 366m) and the piers raised to about 70m to accommodate larger marine traffic and meet current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidance. The agency said the protective fenders for the piers are substantially larger than initially assumed, likening them to the size of an American Football field, which adds materially to the bill.
“Less than two weeks after the collapse, a preliminary estimate was needed to request federal emergency relief funding for immediate clean up and recovery,” said MDTA executive director Bruce Gartner. “Typically, a cost estimate would not be provided on a project of this size until much later in the design process. The Key Bridge Rebuild achieved 70% design in 14 months compared to other projects that have averaged seven years, while also progressing construction. Typical transportation projects of this magnitude take years of planning before even beginning design and pre-construction activities – something that Maryland and MDTA has compressed down to months.”
Inflation and nationwide construction-market changes have also driven costs upward. The Federal Highway Administration has reported a roughly 72% increase in highway construction costs over the last five years; contractors typically price future inflation risk into bids, MDTA noted.
“As design has advanced and pre-construction work progresses, it became clear that material costs for all aspects of the project have increased drastically since the preliminary estimates were prepared less than two weeks after the initial tragedy,” said acting transportation secretary and MDTA chair Samantha J. Biddle. “The updated cost range and schedule are directly correlated to increased material costs and to a robust pier protection system designed to protect the new Key Bridge and reduce the likelihood of a future ship strike to the bridge’s foundational piers. The new Francis Scott Key Bridge isn’t just a local infrastructure project – it’s vital to our nation’s economy and will connect the Baltimore region to economies throughout the United States and the world. Although rebuilding will take longer than initially forecasted and cost more, we remain committed to rebuilding as safely, quickly and cost effectively as possible.”
Concept design for the new Francis Scott Key Bridge
The test pile programme for the rebuild got underway in October and the groundbreaking for construction is expected “in the coming months”, with the agency targeting an open-to-traffic date in late 2030.
The authority said the figure of $4.3–$5.2bn is an updated estimate and that final costs will be determined after negotiations with the progressive design-builder, Kiewit, are complete. It also warned that inflation and volatile material prices remain risks to the final cost.
As the project moves from advanced design into procurement and construction, further adjustments to the schedule and budget are possible. The scaled-up design, heightened protective measures and the complex logistics of rebuilding a major harbour crossing under federal scrutiny will be closely watched by local communities and transportation stakeholders.
The rebuilding project will be financed through a mix of federal emergency relief, state contributions and insurance proceeds, according to MDTA. An American Relief Act provision signed into law made more than $8bn (£6.1bn) available for Emergency Relief and allows a 100% federal share for rebuilding the Key Bridge. Maryland officials have said the state will still make substantial upfront investments, including advancing construction costs and applying hundreds of millions in insurance proceeds toward reconstruction.
Separately, Maryland continues to pursue legal action against the owner and manager of the Dali vessel that struck the bridge. The state says it will seek to recover damages for the cost of reconstruction and other losses attributable to “gross negligence,” and that any proceeds will be used to reduce the federal emergency fund liability for the project.
Officials acknowledge the wider regional impacts caused by the bridge loss, citing longer commutes and economic strain on local businesses.
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