BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday revealed the design for the new Francis Scott Key Bridge, which will span the Patapsco River, nearly a year after the original bridge collapsed into the water following a ship collision that killed six construction workers.

The new bridge, presented at a ceremony in Baltimore, will be a cable-stayed structure, connecting Curtis Bay and Dundalk. Governor Moore described the project, valued at $2 billion, not as a nostalgic endeavor but as a “working bridge for a working city,” emphasizing its economic and logistical importance.

“This bridge will reconnect communities, honor those we lost, and symbolize our resilience,” Moore stated. The design aims to accommodate larger vessels, standing 45 feet taller than its predecessor.

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has already begun preparations for construction, including soil sampling and riverbed scanning. Demolition of the remnants of the old bridge is set to start this spring, paving the way for the new bridge’s construction, expected to be completed by fall 2028.

Funding for the bridge is fully covered by federal resources, a testament to bipartisan support, according to Moore. “We were able to get 100% cost share because there was both Democrat and Republican support,” he said. The initial federal emergency relief was $60 million for debris removal, with subsequent contracts awarded, including a $73 million deal to Kiewit Infrastructure Company for design and construction.

“The Key Bridge was symbolic of our community’s grit and fortitude — and its collapse was deeply painful and personal for so many of us,” said Congressman Johnny Olszewski. “We grieved the men who lost their lives in this unimaginable tragedy and suffered the pain of uncertain livelihoods in the weeks that followed. Today we celebrate an important milestone as we do what Baltimore always does in the toughest times: rebuild together.”

The collapse of the original Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, disrupted local and national supply chains, underscoring the urgency of the rebuild. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller expressed optimism and determination in moving forward with the project, seeing it as a beacon of perseverance and recovery for Maryland.

The governor also announced investments to strengthen the Port of Baltimore’s dominance on the East Coast. As part of the governor’s 2025 legislative agenda, the state would invest $15 million in the Tradepoint Atlantic’s Terminal Container Project, increasing container capacity by 70%, generating more than $1 billion in private sector investment, and producing more than 8,000 new jobs for Marylanders.

Additional information on the Key Bridge Rebuild project is available online at https://keybridgerebuild.com.