MD Axes Builder For Key Bridge, Potentially Delaying Project

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland officials have parted ways with the lead contractor for the rebuild of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a move that could further delay the completion of a project highly anticipated by Baltimore-area commuters.

More than 18 months after it was brought in to lead the design and construction of the new Key Bridge, the Maryland Transportation Authority said it would not retain Kiewit Infrastructure Co. for phase two of the rebuild.

Kiewit, one of North America’s largest construction and engineering companies, will continue the work it is contracted to perform in phase one, officials said. This work is expected to last at least through the end of the year.

The decision could potentially delay the completion of the bridge, which was initially slated to be rebuilt by 2028 and cost under $2 billion. As of March, the bridge was set to open by late 2030 with an estimated price tag of more than $5 billion.

However, that number was expected to change in the following months, depending on talks between the state and Kiewit.

• RELATED: Key Bridge Collapse: Where Do Things Stand 2 Years Later?

During formal negotiations, Maryland Secretary of Transportation Katie Thomson said the state and Kiewit were not on the same page and that moving on from the company was in the best interest of state and federal taxpayers. As a result, the state will seek other contractors for phase two construction.

“Governor (Wes) Moore has been abundantly clear that the Key Bridge must be built as safely, quickly and as cost-efficiently as possible," Thomson said in a statement. "It became clear through negotiations that Kiewit’s proposal for Phase 2 construction is unacceptable, far exceeding the state’s independent cost estimates."

In a statement, Moore said cutting ties with Kiewit will ensure greater competition and a better deal for Maryland and its workforce.

“Let me be absolutely clear: work will not stop, we will not slow down, and we will secure the right partners to complete this mission," Moore said

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

Two years after the collapse, the focus is on how the state can best rebuild the bridge that served as a major connection to southeast Baltimore.

Leading the effort is Jim Harkness, the chief engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority.

At a virtual meeting in March, Harkness said early construction work helped to advance the design work for the new bridge and that early demolition efforts ensured the project stayed on schedule.

Once finished, the new cable-stayed bridge is expected to be more than two miles long, have a 230-foot clearance above the waterway, and two 12-foot lanes going in each direction.

Work on the first phase of construction is scheduled to run through spring, with demolition and pre-construction efforts continuing through the end of the year.

Gov. Wes Moore previously said the project's $5 billion price tag was the result of elevated design standards and deteriorating economic conditions that skyrocketed the costs of materials.

“Just as families across the country are dealing with the reality of increased costs, so is Maryland," he said at the time.

"Trade policies out of Washington, D.C. have raised prices on everything — including essential materials we need in order to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”