Revised Cost Estimates Put Francis Scott Key Bridge Replacement Up to $5.2B
Key Highlights
- MDTA now estimates the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement will cost up to $5.2 billion and reopen in late 2030.
- A longer 1,665-foot main span, taller piers, and protective fenders significantly increased project costs.
- Escalating construction material prices and updated engineering data also contributed to the revised estimate.
Cost projections to rebuild Maryland’s Francis Scott Key Bridge have sharply increased since the initial estimates released two weeks after the structure collapsed in March 2024.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) now estimates the replacement will cost between $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion, with the new bridge expected to open to the public in late 2030, according to an MDTA news release.
The updated completion date represents a two-year delay from the original 2028 estimate, Maryland Matters reported.
Span Increases, Higher Material Prices Drive Surge in Costs
MDTA attributed the cost jump to escalating construction material prices and major design changes, including a longer main span and taller piers. The main span will now stretch 1,665 feet, up from the former bridge’s 1,200 feet, while the new bridge’s tallest point will rise to 230 feet above the Patapsco River — an increase from 185 feet. The longer span is required to meet modern American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines and to accommodate larger marine vessels, according to the MDTA press release and Maryland Matters.
Protective fender systems built around the towers — intended to prevent another catastrophic collision — also contributed to higher projected costs, according to Maryland Matters. MDTA noted that updated datapoints, advanced design work and the completion of pre-construction activities enabled more accurate forecasting than was possible immediately following the collapse.
The bridge’s highest point will now stand 230 feet above the river, compared to the original bridge’s 185 feet, and the main span’s 1,665 feet is an increase from the former bridge’s 1,200-foot span, according to Maryland Matters.
Federal Highway Administration data shows that overall construction costs have risen 72 percent over the past five years, according to MDTA.
The replacement bridge will follow the same route as the original structure and maintain two lanes in each direction, but will include wider shoulders, Maryland Matters reported.
Funding for the rebuild is fully covered by federal dollars from the American Relief Act, with more than $8 billion authorized, according to MDTA. The state will provide upfront construction funds and has allocated several hundred million dollars in insurance proceeds toward the effort. Maryland is also seeking compensation from DALI, the vessel operator involved in the collapse, which MDTA says will eventually help offset federal emergency spending, the MDTA press release states.
Sources: MDTA, Maryland Matters