Latest news with #FrancisScottKeyBridge
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Demolition begins on last pieces of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge
BALTIMORE (AP) — Demolition crews are using giant saws, backhoes and other heavy equipment to remove large sections of the remaining pieces of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last year after a container ship lost power and veered off course, killing six people. Its replacement, which is expected to open in 2028, can be built nearby during demolition the work, officials said. Gov. Wes Moore praised the efforts and noted the magnitude of the project during a visit to the worksite Wednesday. He also mourned those who died in the collapse. 'We wanted to move as quickly as possible. We wanted to move as safely as possible, and we wanted to make sure we were being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,' he told reporters. The March 26 collapse killed six construction workers who were filling potholes when the roadway crumbled beneath them. Baltimore's port was closed for months, and increased traffic congestion remains a problem across the region. The longstanding Baltimore landmark was a vital piece of transportation infrastructure that allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown. The original 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span took five years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It was particularly important for the city's port operations. Earlier this year, officials unveiled designs for the state's first cable-stayed bridge. The replacement span will be taller and better protected than the original Key Bridge, which was particularly vulnerable to ship strikes. Crews working to remove its skeletal remains are cutting the concrete deck into 6-foot (1.83-meter) sections and carting them away to be recycled during the construction process, said Brian Wolfe, director of project development for the Maryland Transportation Authority. He said this phase of the demolition should take about nine months. Meanwhile, crews will also start conducting tests to confirm the foundation design of the replacement bridge. Officials said they're reevaluating a $1.7 billion price tag for the project to factor in supply chain issues, tariffs and other costs. They said the completion date could also change.
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Demolition begins on last pieces of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge
BALTIMORE — Demolition crews are using giant saws, backhoes and other heavy equipment to remove large sections of the remaining pieces of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge , which collapsed last year after a container ship lost power and veered off course, killing six people . Its replacement, which is expected to open in 2028, can be built nearby during demolition the work, officials said.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Demolition work on Key Bridge remnants starts Monday
Demolition work on the remaining pieces of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was expected to start Monday and continue over the next several months. The effort begins this week with work mainly focused on 'mobilizing assets and equipment,' said Maryland Transportation Authority Press Secretary Briana McEachern. Crews will then start dismantling the remaining roadway over the Patapsco River, more than a year after the bridge's main span plummeted into the water, killing five when a support pier was hit by the container ship Dali. Preconstruction work on a new bridge, scheduled for completion in 2028, started in January. The new cable-stayed span is expected to cost up to $1.9 billion. The remaining spans, which officials say interfere with the alignment of the new bridge, won't go out with a bang — no controlled demolitions are planned. Instead, crews are expected to take several months dismantling the remaining roadway over the river and then shifting to the still-standing beams and piers on the land-side approaches. The original bridge abutments — the land-based parts that support the bridge — will be taken out last. The demolition work is subject to weather, and this week's forecast calls for rain and storms as remnants of Tropical Depression Chantal pass through the mid-Atlantic. _____
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Maryland could see an onslaught of lawsuits over Key Bridge failures
The state of Maryland could be facing an onslaught of wrongful death and negligence lawsuits related to its upkeep of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed last year when a massive cargo ship lost power and crashed into a critical support pillar, killing six people. Though no civil litigation against the state has commenced yet, more than 20 people and businesses have sent letters to Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis saying they intend to sue the state for its failures to keep the Baltimore bridge's roadway — and the people using it — safe from tragedy. Attorneys representing those alleged victims have estimated the total payout amount could exceed billions of dollars.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Oyster restoration efforts ramp up near Key Bridge collapse site to improve water quality
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has resumed oyster restoration efforts near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse for the first time in nearly a year. More than 31,000 oysters were planted on Wednesday at Fort Carroll, a sanctuary reef a short swimming distance from where the bridge collapsed in March 2024. WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on the Patapsco River to help plant the oysters. Kellie Fiala, the Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says oysters are a natural filter feeder that filters up to 50 gallons of water each day, which clears the way for better water quality and more wildlife. "It's critical," Fiala said. "Oysters used to be a critical part of the economy here, the environment here, and so what we're really trying to do is reconnect people to the water in a healthy and positive way, but also improve the water quality here." Oysters thriving despite Key Bridge collapse WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an oyster restoration effort in March 2024, the day before the Key Bridge collapsed. Fiala said the collapse sparked fear that the debris would stir up sediment and smother the oysters. But, fortunately, underwater surveying shows the oysters are alive and thriving. More than 500,000 oysters to be planted this summer The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to plant about 500,000 oysters in the waters this summer. The oysters being planted at Fort Carroll this summer have been growing throughout marinas in the Harbor, tended to by volunteers. This process of "oyster gardening" helps oysters survive their first year of life, when they're most vulnerable. "We want them to improve water quality, provide habitat, and ecosystem services in Baltimore for the people here," Fiala said. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said more than six million oysters have been planted in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland's oyster population has more than tripled in the past 20 years. Oysters are crucial for Maryland's economy Oysters are important for the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem, as well as Maryland's economy. Maryland's seafood industry accounts for about $600 million annually to the state's economy. Within the last three years, Maryland has collected a record number of oysters. Oysters also help improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality, with adult oysters filtering up to 50 gallons each day, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that water clarity improvements to the bay could drive up property values in Maryland.
