The reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is set to begin on Jan. 7, 2025, the Maryland Transportation Authority recently announced.
State transportation officials said topographic and underwater surveys as well as soil sampling to collect information for a new bridge design will begin at this time.
Demolition work is expected to start in the spring, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
The cost to rebuild the Key Bridge – a project slated to take four years – is estimated to be around $2 billion. That expense is expected to be covered by federal funds through the Baltimore Bridge Relief Act, which was included in the federal spending bill passed on Dec. 20, 2024.
“Congress’ decision to work together to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge marks a key moment in Maryland’s historic recovery and proves that moving in partnership isn’t just important – it is imperative for real progress,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
Previous Key Bridge settlements
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit in September against the owner and operator of the vessel that crashed into and caused the collapse of the Key Bridge in March 2024.
In October, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited agreed to pay more than $101 million to settle the DOJ’s civil claim. Those funds sought under the Rivers and Harbors Act, Oil Pollution Act and general maritime law are being distributed to the U.S. Treasury as well as several federal agencies that were affected by and responded to the Key Bridge collapse.
“This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster and holds the owner and operator of the DALI accountable,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the DOJ’s Civil Division, said in a statement.
Grace Ocean Private Limited previously paid the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Pollution Fund Center $97,294 for costs incurred to abate the threat of oil pollution from the Key Bridge collapse. LL
Read more Land Line news.
Credit: Source link
