Key Bridge Design Unveiled
On February 4, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled the new design concept for the Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild. The governor stated that the new design honors the architectural tradition of the original bridge. The new bridge will be Maryland’s first highway cable-stayed bridge, constructed according to the most advanced industry standards and best infrastructure design practices.
Bridge Features
- Two 12-foot lanes in each direction / 10-foot-wide outside shoulders and 4-foot-wide inside shoulders per direction of travel
- Total bridge length more than 2 miles
- Minimum clearance from water to bridge deck above the federal channel 230 feet
- Two bridge towers more than 600 feet tall
- Distance between main span pylons exceeding 1,600 feet
- Total length of cable-stayed main span exceeding 3,300 feet
- Expected life span of 100 years
Latest Renderings
Design Related News
Bridge Design FAQ
The new bridge will be Maryland’s first highway cable-stayed bridge, which will consist of two lanes in each direction and have a minimum vertical clearance of 230 feet to support larger vessels. It will be constructed according to current industry standards and infrastructure design practices. Cable-stayed bridges have proven to be the most economical for bridges with similar span lengths and allow for a faster construction time compared to other complex bridge types.
There will be two 12-ft lanes with a 10-ft outside shoulder and a 4-ft insider shoulder in each direction, separated by a concrete median.
The bridge piers will be protected by pier protection structures, which will be designed per the latest American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specifications and follow best practices for modern vessel collision protection. Additionally, the main span length of the bridge has been increased to provide additional clearance from the shipping channel.
The images for the Key Bridge design are artistic renderings and do not necessarily reflect all features.
Updated images will be posted as they become available.
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