11 hours ago
Demolition on the rest of Baltimore's collapsed Key Bridge will begin on July 7. Here's what to expect.
Demolition of the remaining structures of Baltimore's collapsed Key Bridge will begin on July 7, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced on Thursday.
The demolition efforts in the Patapsco River will take several months with the use of heavy machinery, the MDTA warned.
What will the demolition look like?
Work will start with the removal of the bridge deck over the river, then demolition of sections over Hawkins Point and Sollers Point.
Crews will initially remove parts of the collapsed bridge that stand in the way of the alignment of the Key Bridge rebuild, which is expected to be completed in 2028.
MDTA says controlled detonations will not be used during this phase of the demolition.
What should nearby residents expect?
There will be tug and barge operations on the river, with heavy equipment and trucks seen on the remaining bridge structure.
MDTA says boats and those in the waterways should avoid the collapse site near the demolition process. Demolition crews will use excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes, and trucks.
Heavy and loud construction work will be from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m.
What's next for the Key Bridge rebuild?
The Key Bridge reconstruction project will cost about $2 billion, and it will take about four years to complete.
Pre-construction activities began in January 2025, which included inspections of nearby properties, riverbed scanning, and soil sample collection. In February, the MDTA authorized three contracts worth $20 million each for construction management and inspection services.
A new cable-stay design revealed in February shows that the new structure will visually resemble the original bridge while implementing structural improvements. The new Key Bridge will be taller to better accommodate ship traffic, with the federal shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide and the base raised by 45 feet to a height of 230 feet.
