BALTIMORE — The leader of transportation of Maryland was approved the contract to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge a few months after the 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) steel span collapsed under the impact of a massive container ship that lost power and crashed into one of the supporting columns.
Immediately after the March 26 collapse, officials quickly pledged to rebuild the bridge — a longtime Baltimore landmark and vital transportation infrastructure.
He cited a 2028 completion date and estimated the project would cost $1.7 billion and would include more dock protection to protect incoming ships.
At its monthly meeting Thursday morning, the Maryland Transportation Authority board awarded a $73 million contract for the first phase of the project to Kiewit Infrastructure, which calls itself “one of the largest and most respected engineering and construction organizations in North America.”
Bruce Gartner, executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, said the contract award is a step forward in the recovery and rebuilding process.
“This really represents an order of magnitude greater than all previous milestones,” he said in an interview Thursday. He said the agency hopes to release renderings of the preliminary design in the next few months, which will give the public an idea of ​​what the new bridge will look like.
Kiewit was founded in 1884 to provide masonry services in Omaha, Nebraska, according to its website. Notable past projects include the Fort McHenry Tunnel in Baltimore’s harbor, which opened in 1985. More drivers have been using the tunnel since the bridge’s collapse removed one of the three water crossings that allowed them to pass through downtown Baltimore.
Gartner said the state has worked with Kiewit before and the company has managed the construction of a major water crossing with maritime activities similar to the Key Bridge.
“We look forward to working with the Maryland Transportation Authority, our many local subcontractors and suppliers, and our strong workforce to deliver and restore this important transportation link in the city of Baltimore and the greater region,” the company said in a statement Thursday. .
In announcing the recommendation to the board, state transportation officials said the company’s proposal ranked first for technical content even though it was slightly more expensive than the others.
Officials said the project will move forward in two phases, with the first focusing on design work and other steps needed before construction begins, which may include the demolition of the remaining bridge remains. Phase one is expected to be completed within a year.
Kiewit will have “exclusive negotiating rights” for the second phase, transportation officials said in a statement after the board meeting. “If the guaranteed maximum price is not agreed upon, the MDTA will submit the work under a separate contract mechanism,” the statement read.
Officials say the new bridge will be higher than the old one to accommodate larger ships entering Baltimore’s harbor. The original Key Bridge took five years to build and opened in 1977.
The March bridge collapse killed six roadworks crew members who were filling potholes in the bridge when they came crashing down into the water below. Baltimore’s busy port was closed for months after the collapse and increased traffic congestion in the area remains a problem for drivers.
An FBI investigation is ongoing into the circumstances that led to the collapse, including a power outage that the freighter Dali experienced while still in Baltimore.
The state transportation board also on Thursday approved a proposal to send money from a new $350 million insurance payout to the federal government. He called the decision a good faith decision as discussions continue about whether the federal government will cover 100% of cleanup and rebuilding costs. Chubb, the company that insured the bridge, paid $350 million to the state, officials said this week.
The ongoing litigation will determine who else is responsible for the bridge collapse, which could be one of the costliest maritime disasters in US history.
Affected businesses have joined the mayor and city council of Baltimore to file a lawsuit claiming Dali’s owner and manager must pay damages. Underwood Energy, a Baltimore-based company that transports hazardous materials, filed a new claim Friday based on revenue losses associated with the bridge collapse. Hazmat trucks are not allowed in the two tunnels under Baltimore’s harbor, so the vehicles “now have to make a 30-mile detour to cross the Patapsco River,” the complaint said.
The federal government generally picks up 90% of the tab and 10% states when replacing interstate roads and bridges damaged by disasters, but the Biden administration and members of the Maryland congressional delegation pushed congressional lawmakers to approve 100%.
Officials have said they expect that federal taxpayers will eventually be made whole to replace the bridge through insurance payments and damage, but that may take time.
___
Associated Press writer Brian Witte contributed from Annapolis.
