BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced Wednesday that it expects to begin the next phase of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild with a Test Pile Program, scheduled to start on or about Sept. 27, weather permitting.
The program marks a new milestone in the project, which will involve driving large steel piles into the Patapsco River to test and validate the foundational design for the new bridge. Six of the test piles have already arrived in Baltimore by barge. Fabricated with American-made steel, the piles are eight feet in diameter and more than 220 feet in length.
“The Test Pile Program marks another major milestone in the Key Bridge Rebuild project,” MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said in a statement. “Some of the test piles will be evaluated for the potential to be incorporated into the permanent foundations for the new bridge.”
Over a period of six to eight weeks, 12 test piles will be driven into the riverbed. Crews will drive two piles per week, with each hammering session expected to last about two hours. The sound of the hammering is expected to be audible in nearby communities, described as similar to “a large bell in the distance.” Construction is slated to occur Monday through Saturday during a 12-hour daylight window.
To mitigate potential disruptions and ensure safety, noise and vibration monitors were installed in the project area and surrounding communities before demolition began. The monitors will collect real-time data to ensure that construction activities remain within acceptable limits. The MDTA has also made a video )below) featuring Chief Engineer Jim Harkness available to provide more information on the test pile activities.
The MDTA also reminded boaters to review the “Smooth Waters Initiative” online for information on safety protocols and restrictions during the reconstruction of the bridge. The public can find additional project information and sign up for email alerts at https://www.KeyBridgeRebuild.com.
More in the video below.
