MDTA board approves contract for Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild project

BALTIMORE -- The Maryland Transportation Authority Board has approved a $73 million contract for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild project. The update comes months after the tragic collapse that left six construction workers dead .

Kiewit Infrastructure Company will be responsible for the complete design and construction of the new bridge.

After an environmental review process in July, the Federal Highway Administration gave the Maryland Transportation Authority permission to proceed with the demolition of the bridge's remains and begin reconstruction.

The project is set to begin in 2025, and the replacement bridge is expected to be complete by Fall 2028. Kiewit estimates rebuilding the bridge will cost about $1.2 billion, which is less than the initial projection of $1.7 billion, but a more accurate cost projection will be made halfway through phase one..

Two phases

The Key Bridge rebuild will be done in two phases, starting with project development, which will take about a year.

The MDTA will work in tandem with Kiewit on what is called a "progressive design-build," which allows the agency to bring Kiewit on board for phase one.

"We're going to be working side-by-side," said MDTA Chief Engineer Jim Harkness. "We're going to have input on what we need to see."

When the first phase is finished, Kiewit will be given exclusive negotiating rights for phase two, consisting of the final project design and construction.

"We were looking at the key staff for the teams," Harkness said. "Who was going to be on that team? What have they done in the past? What experience do they have, their performance on projects of a similar size, a similar importance?"

More about Kiewit

Kiewit, based in Omaha, Nebraska, was selected by the MDTA board following a five-month search, culminating in a decision at its meeting on Thursday.

According to Kiewit's website , the company is one of North America's "largest and most respected construction organizations."

A Kiewit spokesperson told WJZ in a statement that the company is looking forward to partnering with the state and local subcontractors and suppliers.

"Kiewit is excited to have been selected to deliver design and construction services as part of a progressive design-build contract to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge," Kiewit said in a statement. "We look forward to partnering with the Maryland Transportation Authority, many local subcontractors and suppliers, and our strong craft workforce to safely deliver and restore this vital transportation link in the city of Baltimore and the greater region. Our long track record of delivering complex, schedule-intensive work through our extensive bridge, marine construction, dredging and related experience will serve us well to successfully execute this important project."

Tolls suspended at Key Bridge turnaround

During Thursday's board meeting, MDTA approved the temporary suspension of toll collection at the Key Bridge turnaround to ease traffic until the bridge is reopened.