Demolition Of Existing Key Bridge Expected To Begin In July

By FOX45
Posted on 06/26/25 | News Source: FOX45

Baltimore, MD - June 26, 2025 -  Demolition of the existing structures of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to begin on or about July 7, weather permitting, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced Thursday.

MDTA said this is a major milestone in the Key Bridge Rebuild project, and that the demolition work is expected to take several months to complete.

The demolition will involve the use of heavy machinery to dismantle the remaining portions of the Key Bridge.

MDTA said the process will begin with the removal of bridge deck over the river, followed by demolition of sections over Hawkins Point and Sollers Point.

During this phase of the work, portions of the existing structure will be removed that interfere with the alignment of the new bridge.

Controlled demolitions will not be used during this phase of the project.

MDTA warns that nearby communities should expect active tug and barge operations on the Patapsco River, machinery use that may include excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes & trucks, and an on-site concrete crusher. Officials said that noise of typical large construction projects runs from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Before the project begins, MDTA is installing noise and vibration monitoring equipment to capture baseline noise and vibration data.

Authorities will also post waterway safety notices to designate speed restrictions and safety zones near the construction area.

MDTA says it will provide advance notification of any work that may affect nearby communities, roads or waterways.

Officials have been conducting pre-construction work since January 2025, allowing for gathering of data that helped further the design process including:

• Geotechnical investigations: Extensive water-based borings of the Patapsco riverbed and land-based boring along the bridge alignment to assess soil conditions.
• Survey and mapping: Collection of topographic data, right-of-way boundaries and subsurface utility mapping to support detailed construction planning.
• Wind tunnel testing: Simulations conducted to study the bridge’s response to a variety of wind loads.

On March 26, 2024, the ship Dali was traveling out of the Baltimore Harbor when it experienced a loss of electrical power and propulsion and struck the southern pier supporting the central truss spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which then collapsed, the NTSB said.

As a result of the collapse, six construction workers died.

Now, just over a year and three months later, demolition will begin.