New Key Bridge Estimated To Be Completed by Fall 2028, Cost up to $1.9B, Officials Say
Maryland transportation officials reported that the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to be completed in just over four years. Estimated to cost between $1.7 and $1.9 billion, the replacement of the Interstate 695 span is expected to reach completion in fall of 2028, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
According to the Baltimore Sun, The cost estimate is preliminary, with detailed engineering specifics not confirmed, Wiedefeld said in a phone interview. A major caveat in the timeline will be going through the bidding process. The rebuild will be a “progressive design-build” project, meaning the selected contractor will hire a designer and plan steps along the way, to “get this thing open as quickly as possible,” Wiedefeld said.
“We’re going at this extremely aggressively” while still keeping in mind budget and time restraints, he said.
The new bridge is expected to be paid for either mostly or entirely with federal funds, with Maryland’s entire congressional delegation putting forth legislation to ensure the federal government covers all costs.
