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Key Bridge rebuild contract issued | Dump Trucks Charlotte NC

Aerial view shows boats with cranes mounted on them fishing objects out of the water, with a broken bridge on either side.
Salvage crews continue to clean up wreckage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Patapsco River on June 11, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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Award: Design and construction of Phase 1 of Key Bridge replacement
Value: $73 million
Location: Baltimore
Client: Maryland Transportation Authority

On Thursday, the Maryland Transportation Authority Board approved a $73 million design-build contract to Kiewit Infrastructure Co. for Phase 1 of the complete design and construction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, according to an MDTA news release. Construction firm Kiewit is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

The collapse of the I-695 Key Bridge attracted global attention in March, when the cargo ship Dali struck one of its supports and caused the historic span to crumble into the Patapsco River. The four-lane, 1.6-mile bridge was a major crossing for Baltimore traffic. 

Although the cost estimate for the rebuild is not final, the MDTA currently pegs it at $1.7 billion, funded by a combination of insurance proceeds, cash on hand, bond financing, litigation recoveries and federal funds, according to the project website.  

Kiewit will develop the project scope and requirements in collaboration with MDTA and other project stakeholders, per the release. The MDTA is using a progressive design-build process for the rebuild, which is split into two phases. This method “emphasizes cooperation and flexibility to adapt to emerging needs and changes,” per the release.

Upon successful completion of Phase 1, Kiewit will have exclusive negotiating rights for the second phase, which includes final design and engineering as well as construction. In the event a guaranteed maximum price is not agreed upon, the MDTA will deliver the columbus oh dump truck company under a separate contracting mechanism, according to the release.  

The rebuild is slated to begin in 2025 and the replacement bridge is expected to open in fall 2028, per the release. MDTA said it will columbus oh dump truck company to foster collaboration among the project team and local communities, and to ensure opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses.

“The project scope of columbus oh dump truck company and accelerated timeline will require a substantial amount of skilled labor to complete the construction expeditiously, safely and reliably,” according to the release.

In July, the Federal Highway Administration issued a categorical exclusion classification and National Environmental Policy Act approval for the project, since the replacement will be within the former bridge’s right-of-way and have the same capacity.

Another contract is up for grabs: In July, the MDTA released an RFP for the general engineering consultant, who will serve as the agency’s engineering representative. The agency expects to award the $75 million contract in January 2025, according to the release.

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Cargo ship Dali is seen after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
A yellow crane is dwarfed by massive broken steel debris from a bridge.
President Joe Biden stands at a microphone with the wreckage of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge behind him.
In an aerial view, salvage crews use cranes and barges to remove bridge wreckage from the a cargo ship.
A cargo ship struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, 2024.
baltimore, bridge, key bridge, infrastructure, dali, collapse
A ship floats with the cracked debris of a bridge hanging over it.