Update on the Francis Key Bridge Collapse — Reconstruction Timeline and Cost

As industry leaders in supply chain management , we recognize the critical need for transparency and informed decision-making during periods of disruption. One recent disruption to supply chains was the collapse of the Francis Key Bridge , which halted operations in one of America’s most important East Coast ports, the Port of Baltimore. This article explores the Francis Key Bridge reconstruction, providing the latest information on timelines, costs, and the ongoing impact on the Baltimore region and global supply chains.

A recap of the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse

On March 26, 2024, at 1 am, the Francis Key Bridge collapsed after the container ship M/V Dali rammed into one of its support pylons.

The incident resulted in the tragic loss of six road workers. It also triggered a cascade of disruptions, culminating in the blockage of the Chesapeake Bay and the complete shutdown of the Port of Baltimore.

But that was almost four months ago. What has happened since?

The mission has been to remove the debris and open the port as soon as possible. Let’s see how progress stands today.

A timeline of the cleanup efforts

What is the situation in the Port of Baltimore today?

Authorities have carried out extensive operations to remove the debris from the river and the colossal container ship from the wreckage. However, the process has been slow.

Here’s a brief timeline of the most important milestones:

• One month after the collapse, on? April 25, authorities could finally open a new limited-access channel to let stranded vessels out of the Baltimore Harbor. The first ship to cross was the bulk vessel Balsa 94, depicted below.

• Meanwhile, efforts to remove the M/V Dali continued. On May 13, the Key Bridge Response Unified Command used small explosive charges to bring down the parts of the bridge that kept the Dali stuck.

• The wrecked container ship was later refloated and tugged away on May 20 and taken to port while the crew awaits trial for the accident.

• By May 29, most of the larger chunks of rubble and debris were already gone, and the passage was about to be restored.

• Finally, on June 10, after almost 11 weeks, the Port of Baltimore’s main shipping lane, the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, was fully cleared, marking the official reopening of the port’s operations.

The economic impact

Preliminary estimates suggest that the cleanup and recovery operations alone have already surpassed $100 million and still need to be done.

But beyond that, the collapse has profoundly affected the local economy. The 2023 Economic Impact Study by the MDOT estimated that a port closure would directly impact 51,365 jobs, $16.2 billion in personal income, and $63 billion in business revenues.

This has so far resulted in an estimated daily loss of $15 million to the local economy during port closure, adding up to almost roughly $1.2 billion during the 11 weeks it took to reopen the port.

The Francis Key Bridge reconstruction

In response to the crisis, Maryland State unveiled ambitious plans to rebuild the Francis Key Bridge, adopting a cable-stayed steel truss design. This design is similar to the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge built in Tampa Bay after it collapsed in 1980 when a shipping vessel crashed into one of its pylons.

The image above shows schematics of what the reconstruction of the new Francis Key Bridge could look like. It showcases two towers with massive steel cables holding the bridge together. The roadway would rest on a structure of interconnected steel triangles known as steel trusses, ergo, a cable-stayed steel truss bridge.

The plan is to implement additional protective measures, such as dolphins and other safeguards, similar to those on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It’s sad to know that these simple add-on safeguards would have been enough to protect the Francis Key bridge from collapsing.

Timeline of the Francis Key Bridge reconstruction

A consortium of renowned engineering and construction firms was entrusted with reconstructing the Francis Key Bridge, estimated to take four years.

While the new bridge is expected to enhance the Port of Baltimore's operational efficiency, the road to recovery remains long and arduous, especially considering the price tag.

How much will the Francis Key Bridge reconstruction cost?

The Francis Key Bridge reconstruction is projected to cost a staggering $1.7 to $1.9 billion. For context, this is almost 3x the cost of the Sunshine Skyway bridge ($780 million in today’s dollars). Fortunately, a combination of federal funding and insurance payouts will alleviate some of this immense financial strain.

An avoidable tragedy

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse stands as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust infrastructure maintenance and risk mitigation . While the reconstruction efforts offer a glimmer of hope, the enduring economic consequences of this avoidable tragedy underscore the fragility of global supply chains and the imperative for proactive risk management strategies within the procurement and supply chain domains.

If you want to learn how Babelus can help strengthen and diversify your supply chain to protect it against events like these, send us a message or schedule a meeting to set up a free pilot for your company.