MDTA Reveals That the Demolition of Baltimore's Key Bridge is Likely to Begin July 7

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is set to demolish the remaining structures of Baltimore's Key Bridge starting July 7, 2025. The demolition work is part of the massive rebuilding effort following the bridge's collapse and will last several months, involving heavy machinery and careful dismantling. The new cable-stayed bridge is expected to open in fall 2028.

Mon June 30, 2025 - Northeast Edition
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Demolition of the remaining structures of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is slated to begin around July 7, 2025, weather permitting, marking a significant step forward in the massive bridge rebuilding effort following its collapse in 2024, Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) officials announced June 26, 2025.

The demolition work is expected to span several months and will involve heavy machinery to carefully dismantle the bridge, NottinghamMD.com noted.

It 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,.

MDTA 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 taken out.

The state agency noted that nearby communities should anticipate increased activity on the Patapsco, 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.

Among the equipment involved in the razing of the Key Bridge will be excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes and trucks. An on-site concrete crusher will recycle materials for use in building haul roads and staging areas with the aim of reducing truck trips and costs.

The department 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 MDTA plans to provide timely advance notice of any work impacting communities, roads, or waterways.

Beyond Demolition, Lots of Other Work Planned at Bridge Site

To facilitate the next construction phase of the Key Bridge's rebuilding, MDTA is seeking modifications to existing permits from state and federal agencies. These revisions reflect a slight eastward shift in the new bridge's alignment, which remains entirely within the agency'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 the Patapsco's 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 (FHWA), with no significant increase in overall environmental impacts anticipated.

Further activity on the Patapsco 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.

Since January 2025, 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 also is under way for upcoming load tests to support the main span design.

In addition, 1,121 property inspections have been completed to establish baseline conditions ahead of the major construction effort.

Kiewit Infrastructure Leads Bridge's Rebuild

The current designs for the new Key Bridge show a soaring cable-stayed bridge to replace the old steel truss bridge that was destroyed in the early hours of March 26, 2024, when the container ship Dali lost its steering control and slammed into one of the span's support piers.

Once the new structure is built — the contractor predicts the bridge could open in fall 2028 — the new structure will be the first cable-stayed bridge in the state and restore Interstate 695/Baltimore Beltway, a major connection between Dundalk and Baltimore. The freeway also is a principle commercial route on the East Coast.

The loss of the bridge disrupted supply chains and shut down a toll road used by more than 30,000 vehicles a day, and which annually collects $56 million in tolls, Maryland Matters reported earlier this year.

The new Key Bridge will carry four lanes, with two in each direction. In addition, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the rebuilt bridge will provide 230 ft. of clearance for ships passing underneath, compared to the old span's clearance height of 185 ft.

In January 2025, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $75 million contract to hire three firms to oversee construction management services on the project under the name Bridging Maryland Partnership. The group will supervise work by the project contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure Co., to ensure that "the accelerated design and construction process remains on track," according to MDTA.