More than a year after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, demolition of its remaining structure is finally underway this week on one of Maryland’s most vital transportation links.
The Maryland Transportation Authority announced that demolition began Monday and will take approximately nine months. Officials said the work will be done using mechanical demolition, and no explosives or implosions will be used.
The start of demolition comes 16 months after the bridge collapsed in March 2024. A cargo ship collided with one of its support pillars, severing a major artery to the Port of Baltimore. The collapse halted port operations, disrupted regional traffic, and devastated local businesses.
Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), who had called the bridge essential to the United States’ economy in the aftermath of the collapse, initially vowed swift action. But despite his early urgency, demolition continued this week, 16 months later.
“China would have built 10 bridges by now,” one social media user posted on X.
Another added: “15 months after the Key Bridge collapse: Your reminder that America is inexcusably sclerotic about dealing with infrastructure and it’s significantly worse under Democrat governance.”
The reconstruction project is projected to cost $2 billion and take about four years to complete.
In February, the MDTA unveiled a new cable-stay bridge design that preserves the original bridge’s iconic look while improving its structural features. The new bridge will be taller and wider, raising the base by 45 feet to allow more clearance for ships and expanding the federal shipping channel from 700 to 1,000 feet.
HERE’S WHERE POSSIBLE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS ARE GOING AS THEY VISIT EARLY PRIMARY STATES
The federal government has committed to covering the cost through a $100 billion disaster relief bill passed in December 2024.
The MDTA said safety is a top priority. Officials are installing equipment in nearby communities to monitor noise and vibration levels throughout demolition.
