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Maryland officials announced that the cost to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge has soared to between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, more than double the original estimate of $1.9 billion. The completion date has also been pushed back to 2030, two years later than initially planned. The announcement came on Monday (November 17), a day before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was set to meet to discuss the cause of the bridge collapse in 2024 that resulted in six deaths.
The bridge collapsed after the cargo ship Dali lost power and crashed into it. Investigators found a loose cable that caused electrical issues on the ship, leading to the crash. The NTSB is expected to vote on the probable cause and make safety recommendations.
Governor Wes Moore stated that the revised cost and timeline are due to increased material costs and updated federal design standards, not discretionary state choices. The Maryland Transportation Authority emphasized the importance of the new bridge for the national economy and the need for a robust pier protection system to prevent future incidents, according to NBC News.
The original bridge, a vital piece of Baltimore's infrastructure, allowed drivers to bypass downtown and supported the city's port operations. Crews have been working to demolish the remaining spans since July. The state plans to pursue litigation against those responsible for the collapse to avoid burdening taxpayers with the costs.