ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of Transportation recently unveiled the new design concept for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild. The event marks a significant milestone in the multi-year project, aiming to restore the connection to the community for future generations and improve both accessibility and economic growth.
“Today, we take an important step toward recovering from the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that has affected not just Maryland’s economy, but the nation’s economy,” Moore said. “While we mark the unveiling of the new bridge design, we continue to honor the six Marylanders who lost their lives while serving our state, and their families who carry their legacy forward. Together, we will show the world what it means to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong.”
Moore was joined in Baltimore by Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, Congresswoman Sarah K. Elfreth, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Katherine A. Klausmeier, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld, Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Y. Maria Martinez, Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner, Federal Highway Administration Maryland Division Administrator Valeriya Remezova, and Maryland Motor Truck Association Executive Vice President Armand Patella for the announcement.
The Key Bridge connected thousands of Maryland commuters and commercial vehicles daily, serving a vital role in linking the state. To swiftly restore access, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the progressive design-builder, and the general engineering consultant partnered to finalize the new design and complete critical pre-construction assessments in January 2025.
The State of Maryland continues to pursue the DALI’s owner and manager for all of the damages — including the cost to reconstruct the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Last year, Congress passed the American Relief Act, which provides 100 percent federal funding subject to any compensation paid by the DALI.
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“The new Key Bridge design shows it will be a gateway to Baltimore City, connecting communities and workers for generations to come,” Wiedefeld said. “The design is optimized to meet the needs of the region by supporting growth at the Port of Baltimore and reconnecting communities. Residents, commuters, and businesses are relying on us to make the Baltimore Beltway whole as quickly as possible. This design achieves these goals while still allowing for Baltimore to make its mark on its new bridge.”
With the new design concept, the project will move forward with final design and regulatory approvals before initiating construction. To ensure transparency and community engagement, the project team has connected with thousands of Marylanders through forums and community updates and will continue to gather the public’s preferences on the non-structural design elements so that the bridge resonates with Marylanders.
