Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of Transportation recently unveiled the new design concept for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild, offering a fresh vision for one of Baltimore’s most iconic transportation landmarks, according to a statement from the governor's office. 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.
The new cable-stayed bridge will have two lanes in each direction. It will also be 230 feet from the surface of the water below to accommodate larger container ships. The former bridge was 185 feet tall.
The original bridge was destroyed March 26 of last year when one of its supports was struck by a container ship that lost power leaving the Port of Baltimore. Six of eight workers who were making repairs on the bridge died in the collapse.
“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,” said Gov. Moore. “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.”
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.
“We are very pleased to mark this milestone in the Key Bridge rebuilding process and credit the Moore administration, our Congressional delegation, and especially the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transportation Authority for achieving this objective in record time,” said Maryland Motor Truck Association Executive Vice President Armand Patella. “A process that would normally have taken years has moved forward in just months. The trucking community remains confident and looks forward to the next phase of the project and the completion of a new bridge.”
The State of Maryland continues to pursue the DALI’s owner and manager for all of the damages caused by their negligence — including the cost to reconstruct the Francis Scott Key Bridge — so that the parties responsible for the tragedy pay for the damages they caused. Last year, Congress passed the American Relief Act, which provides 100% federal funding subject to any compensation paid by the DALI.
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—ensuring that the bridge resonates with Marylanders.
The governor also announced investments to strengthen the Port of Baltimore’s dominance on the East Coast. As part of the governor’s 2025 legislative agenda, the state would invest $15 million in the Tradepoint Atlantic’s Terminal Container Project, increasing container capacity by 70%, generating more than $1 billion in private sector investment, and producing more than 8,000 new jobs for Marylanders.
