BALTIMORE, MD—Demolition of the remaining structures of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is slated to begin around July 7, weather permitting, marking a significant step forward in the massive Key Bridge Rebuild project, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced this week.
The demolition work is expected to span several months and will involve heavy machinery to carefully dismantle the bridge. The process will commence with the removal of the bridge deck over the Patapsco River, followed by sections over Hawkins Point and Sollers Point. This initial phase targets portions of the existing structure that obstruct the alignment of the new bridge, and officials confirmed that controlled detonations will not be used.
The general demolition sequence includes removing the deck, barriers, and parapets over the river from both landside approaches, followed by the removal of girders and piers on the landside down to just below ground level. The original north and south abutments will also be removed.
Nearby communities should anticipate increased activity on the river, including active tug and barge operations, with heavy equipment and trucks visible on the existing bridge structure. Barges will be used as protective shielding and must be avoided by waterway users. Machinery involved will include excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes, and trucks. An on-site concrete crusher will recycle materials for use in haul roads and staging areas, aiming to reduce truck trips and costs. Residents can expect noise typical of large construction projects from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Buoys will delineate a safety zone around active work areas, prohibiting entry.
The MDTA emphasized its commitment to community engagement, with ongoing outreach efforts that include installing equipment to monitor baseline noise and vibration data in nearby communities. Waterway safety notices will be issued to establish speed restrictions and safety zones for vessels, and the authority plans to provide timely advance notice of any work impacting communities, roads, or waterways.
To facilitate the next construction phase, the MDTA is seeking modifications to existing permits from state and federal agencies. These modifications reflect a slight eastward shift in the new bridge’s alignment, which remains entirely within the MDTA’s existing right-of-way. The updates also include changes to bridge pier foundation design, pier protection elements, and adjusted trestle configuration. While the modifications will decrease authorized impacts to tidal waters, some additional impacts to non-tidal wetlands and waterways are expected. A reevaluation of the project’s Categorical Exclusion will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, with no significant increase in overall environmental impacts anticipated.
Further activity on the Patapsco River this summer will include test pile driving, scheduled to begin and continue through the fall, and ongoing geotechnical exploration with drilling and sampling on both land and water to support detailed design. The MDTA will provide two weeks’ public notice before major activities begin.
Since January 2025, the MDTA has been conducting vital pre-construction work, including extensive water and land-based borings for geotechnical investigations, topographic surveys, and subsurface utility mapping. Wind tunnel and scour testing simulations have been performed to study the bridge’s response to environmental loads and water movement around its foundation. Fabrication of test piles is underway for upcoming load tests to support the main span design. Additionally, 1,121 property inspections have been completed to establish baseline conditions ahead of major construction.
The MDTA reiterates its commitment to safety, transparency, and public communication throughout the Key Bridge Rebuild. For the latest project information and email updates, visit www.KeyBridgeRebuild.com or email [email protected].
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