Inside the Massive Effort to Replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge

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Gordie Howe Bridge: • The $6.4BN Gordie Howe...
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Introduction
On March 26, 2024, Baltimore faced a significant tragedy when a massive container vessel struck the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in the death of six construction workers. This catastrophic event not only had immediate human and economic repercussions but also prompted swift action from Baltimore for cleanup and the design of a new bridge. This comprehensive examination delves into the details of the accident and the colossal effort involved in creating a new mega bridge.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), has been a critical infrastructure piece since its opening in 1977. The bridge spanned 9,000 feet, constructed from steel and concrete, featuring a continuous steel through-truss section over the Patapsco River. The main span provided 185 feet of vertical navigation clearance and about 1,100 feet of horizontal clearance between supporting piers. By 2023, it handled an average daily traffic of 34,000 vehicles, with 10% being trucks.
Protection for the bridge included four large dolphins constructed with 25-foot diameter sheet piles filled with concrete, crucial for both impact protection and navigational assistance.
The Accident
The cargo vessel Dali, powered by a 55,000-hp diesel engine, experienced a catastrophic failure when two electrical circuit breakers tripped, causing a blackout. This led to the vessel losing both propulsion and steering while it was on a collision course with the Key Bridge. Despite efforts to manually restore power and drop the anchor, the Dali struck pier no. 17 at 6.5 knots, causing six spans of the bridge to collapse onto the vessel.
The accident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers and disrupted maritime access, affecting nearly 70 ships. The cleanup required a significant effort from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Navy, and other specialists, involving a substantial fleet of cranes, tugboats, and salvage vessels.
Cleanup and Effects
The bridge collapse had immediate and far-reaching effects. Maryland's Governor declared a state of emergency, and the Maryland Secretary of Transportation suspended all shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore. The cleanup operation led by USACE involved over 1,100 engineering specialists and various heavy-lift equipment.
Debris removal began on March 30, and by mid-April, significant progress had been made, with 3,000 tons of debris cleared and a temporary channel opened for recovery vessels. The salvage team also worked on removing containers from the Dali, and by May 20, the vessel was freed from the wreckage.
The collapse caused significant supply chain disruptions, particularly affecting automakers and major shipping lines. Economists estimated the weekly cost of disruptions at around $1.7 billion, with insurance losses ranging between $1 billion and $4 billion. Baltimore's city officials pursued legal action against the involved shipping companies for negligence.
The Future
In response to the urgent need for a new bridge, the MDTA is expediting the construction process by allowing contractors to bid with their own design ideas. Over 1,700 contracting firms attended a briefing, and a request for proposals was issued, seeking a visually attractive design with minimal piers in the Patapsco River and substantial vessel collision protection. The project aims to complete the new bridge by fall 2028, with significant federal funding expected to ease the financial burden on the region.
The most practical design for the new bridge is anticipated to be a cable-stayed bridge, similar to the Gordie Howe Bridge being constructed on the Detroit-Windsor Border. This design offers strength and faster construction for a bridge of this length. Webuild, an engineering firm, submitted a cable-stayed design proposal resembling Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Regardless of which firm wins the construction bid, the new bridge will be a remarkable mega project, symbolizing resilience and progress in the face of tragedy.
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Fair Use Disclaimer:
This video contains copyrighted material used under the guidelines of fair use. The purpose of this video is to provide commentary and critique on the Chicago Spire's story, and the content is transformative in nature. It is used for educational purposes, with the intention to inform and entertain viewers. All rights to the copyrighted material are retained by the respective owners.

[@philrabe910]

9:10 The Sunshine Skyway- also a replacement span for an old steel cantilever bridge that was struck by a (much smaller) cargo vessel around 1980. I remember the old one being scary to a little kid.

[@hatemmamony1213]

nice video! looking out for more

[@Sacto1654]

It's going to be a cable-stayed bridge because it is the design that can be built the fastest. I had predicted that other designs would either take took long to build or would not be reasonably safe in another collision.

[@TheHawk--oe8iq]

The Gordie Howe bridge is 1.5 miles long, including the half mile center span. With the center span construction completed, the Gordie Howe bridge is now officially a border crossing with customs of both countries on site, (currently screening bridge employees & officials). Note, with the Gordie Howe bridge, NO structural supports are in the water to interfere with (or vulnerable to) shipping vessel traffic. Gordie Howe bridge is also six lanes wide (plus shoulders), plus a dedicated bicycle/pedestrian lane. The Gordie Howe bridge project cost $6.4 billion (CAD), up from the original $5.7 billion (CAD) estimated prior to the COVID pandemic. The Gordie Howe's bridge support towers stand 720 ft high, and their footings are about 725 ft deep. The bridge is designed to last for about 125 years, becoming the longest cable stayed bridge in North America. Expecting to be open in September 2025, construction began in 2018. Tolls will be paid on the Canadian side, since Canada is footing the bill for the entire bridge project, which include both ports of entry, approaches to the bridge from the ports, and ramps to their respective ports from either I-75 or 401 highways. However, bicyclists & pedestrians may cross toll-free, but don't forget your proper ID or passport.

[@smurftums]

Hopefully the new bridge will accomodate the largest cargo vessels sailing today.

[@ronz101]

One point nine billion BEFORE cost overruns. Ya' rush building this one and it will go down again no matter who designs it. 🎉

[@MoreMowses]

This is such a good quality vid, how are you so undderated

[@arnoldromppai5395]

there no lik in description for the cable bridge,, were is it

[@alanstevens1296]

The only actual solution I can see is to tunnel under the shipping channel, so that there is no bridge there in the first place. Like the bridge-tunnels in the Norfolk, VA, USA area. My solution would be a tunnel as on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and I-664 Bridge-Tunnel. No bridge over the shipping channel that can be hit by ships or bombed during war. The I-695 approach tunnel portal causeways are already in place, for the original design of a 6,200 foot long tunnel.

[@TheHawk--oe8iq]

And road conditions in the tunnel are less subject to harsh weather conditions, like icy, or snow-covered bridges during the winter.

[@DWNY358]

The routing over the bridge was I-695, not MD 695. Otherwise, a good video.

[@DeaconDee80]

I wonder will they keep the name

[@noodengr3three825]

With the way things are going they will rename it for whoever wrote the so called Black national anthem.

[@GamingBren]

probably yes with how important FSK was

[@brandonlancon9511]

My question is where the 6 lost souls union members/reps

[@galewinds7696]

Bodies were recovered

[@redstonerelic]

​@@galewinds7696I think they wanted to know if they were union members. Which isn't really relevant in this case, as union or not, it would not have changed their fates. Unions exist to protect you against your boss, not giant cargo ships coming straight for you

[@KB-gs8zi]

OKS !!!! Have made comments on other channels that the ""KEY bridge was a ""TOLL" bridge from day 1 when it opened in '75 ,, so where's the $$$$$ for maintaining & replacing gone ??? GOOD "OL" AMERICAN GREED!!! 😡🤬

[@benyomovod6904]

I hope this time they will not save cash on protetecting dolphins