Maryland transportation officials are defending a $5.2 billion estimate to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed after struck by a cargo ship, despite concerns from state lawmakers.
During a recent hearing with Maryland House Appropriations and Environment and Transportation committees, Transportation Secretary Kathryn Thomson said the Maryland Transportation Authority’s estimate was built on collaboration with independent cost estimators and the Federal Highway Administration, according to a Maryland Matters report.
Thomson also said the department continues to reevaluate and pressure-test that number, which remains the best estimate.
When pressed by committee members on other reports that the original estimate from Kiewit Infrastructure — which was recently rejected as the contractor for the bridge rebuild — had reached $9 billion, Thomson said that will “never be our numbers,” according to the Maryland Matters report. Kiewit told Maryland Matters that the rumored $9.1 billion estimate “is not a cost figure turned in by Kiewit.”
A new $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion price tag for replacing the Key Bridge was released by MDTA in November. The preliminary rebuilt estimate was $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion with the bridge opening in 2028.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had pushed for the contract to be rebid after “costs ballooned and timelines lagged” under Kiewit. MDTA previously stated Kiewit’s Phase 2 proposal was “unacceptable, far exceeding the state’s independent cost estimates,” and Maryland Governor Wes Moore directed MDTA to “off-ramp” Kiewit and seek other contractors.
Kiewit won the $73 million Phase 1 Progressive Design-Build contract for the bridge replacement in mid-2024 and received exclusive bidding rights for Phase 2. Kiewit's Phase 1 work, which includes driving foundation piles and building a temporary trestle, is expected to continue through the end of 2026.
MDTA also recently announced a new approach to bidding the demolition and rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, with four separate contracts instead of one being awarded: for demolition, building the south approach, building the north approach and building the main span.
The Key Bridge collapsed March 26, 2024, after the cargo ship Dali lost power twice in the Baltimore Port channel and crashed into it. The collapse killed six construction workers who were on the bridge.
