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Maryland Transport Authority and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration announced on Tuesday that the FHWA has given the green light to the project by issuing a Categorical Exclusion classification and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval for the I-695 Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild Project.

A sailboat passes below one of the remaining ramps of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the northeast side of the Patapsco River in July 2024. Photo: Reuters/Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun.

“Securing this approval marks a major milestone in rebuilding the Key Bridge and reconnecting communities following the March 26 catastrophic collapse,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chairman Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This approval from the federal government formally gives MDTA the go ahead to move forward with plans to rebuild the Key Bridge.”

MDTA released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Friday, July 19, inviting consultant teams to submit proposals for a US$75 million general engineering consultant contract as part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild.

The consultant will serve as MDTA’s engineering representative and provide a range of support services such as risk management/analyses; establishing, reviewing, tracking and monitoring cost and schedules; managing project documentation; liaising with environmental regulators; and overseeing Disadvantage Business Enterprise compliance, among other services.

The chosen general engineering consultant will also manage the progressive design-builder, which will be selected by the MDTA later this summer, by auditing the progressive design-builder’s processes, reviewing submittals and confirming the design criteria is met.

MDTA said it expects to award the contract in February 2025. It added that the contract will have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal of 31.5%.

Interested bidders can access the Request for Proposals at eMaryland Marketplace Advantage, commonly known as eMMA.

The 47-year-old Francis Scott Key bridge dramatically collapsed on March 27 after Singapore-flagged container ship Dali struck one of its support columns, killing four members of a roadwork crew and leaving another two missing presumed dead.