The Maryland Transportation Authority raised the rebuild estimate for Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to $4.3–$5.2 billion and now expects reopening in late 2030, two years later than earlier projections. The Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, after the container ship Dali struck a pier; a preliminary NTSB report links the accident to two electrical failures on the ship. Six construction workers died and the span — which carried about 35,000 vehicles daily — was a vital port route. Officials cited rising material costs, national economic trends and federal design and resilience standards as reasons for the higher price tag.
Key Bridge Rebuild Cost More Than Doubled to $4.3–$5.2B; Reopening Pushed to Late 2030
The Maryland Transportation Authority raised the rebuild estimate for Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to $4.3–$5.2 billion and now expects reopening in late 2030, two years later than earlier projections. The Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, after the container ship Dali struck a pier; a preliminary NTSB report links the accident to two electrical failures on the ship. Six construction workers died and the span — which carried about 35,000 vehicles daily — was a vital port route. Officials cited rising material costs, national economic trends and federal design and resilience standards as reasons for the higher price tag.
09:00 AM, 11/18/2025Economy
Rebuild estimate for Francis Scott Key Bridge jumps; opening now expected in late 2030
The Maryland Transportation Authority on Monday raised the projected cost to replace Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to a range of $4.3 billion to $5.2 billion and said the rebuilt span is now expected to open in late 2030 — about two years later than earlier projections.
The more than twofold increase from the prior $1.7–$1.9 billion estimate reflects updated engineering studies and rising costs, officials said. Governor Wes Moore noted that the original estimates were produced less than two weeks after the March 26, 2024, collapse and before detailed design or engineering work had been completed.
Why costs rose
Moore and Maryland transportation officials cited several drivers of the higher price: worsening national economic conditions, increased material and labor costs, and federal design and resilience standards that have raised baseline requirements for the replacement structure. Officials said many of these factors are not discretionary state choices but reflect broader regulatory and market realities.
What happened
The Key Bridge — a critical artery into the Port of Baltimore that carried roughly 35,000 vehicles a day — collapsed in the predawn hours of March 26 after the container ship Dali struck a support pier. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report said the vessel experienced two catastrophic electrical failures minutes before impact. The report describes two power outages that occurred about three ship-lengths from the bridge when two critical circuit breakers tripped, disabling pumps needed to operate the ship’s single propeller and rudder.
The NTSB also reported the ship’s emergency generator was not configured to power the vessel’s propulsion systems. At the time of the incident, the ship was under the control of an apprentice pilot who was accompanied by a senior pilot; investigators said crewmembers tested negative for drugs and alcohol and fuel samples tested negative for contaminants on multiple tests. The NTSB has scheduled a public board meeting to review its investigation findings.
Human toll and federal support
Six construction workers fell to their deaths in the collapse; the workers were immigrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. President Joe Biden pledged federal assistance for the rebuild, and Maryland officials said they will continue coordinating with the federal government to secure support, find efficiencies and accelerate safe reconstruction.
Governor Moore said his administration will provide ongoing updates and work to rebuild the bridge “as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible.” Officials emphasize that the schedule and budget will continue to be refined as design progresses and procurement begins.
Key takeaway: The rebuild is now projected at $4.3–$5.2 billion with an expected reopening in late 2030, largely driven by updated engineering, higher material and labor costs, and federal resilience requirements.