MDTA Announces General Engineering Consultant Contract, Launches New Facebook Page and Kicks Off Pre-Construction Activities for Key Bridge Rebuild

BALTIMORE (Jan. 8, 2025) – The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) today announced a $75 million General Engineering Consultant services contract which was approved today by the Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) in support of the Key Bridge Rebuild Project. The contract, awarded to Bridging Maryland Partnership, a Joint Venture of WSP, RK&K and JMT, designates them as the General Engineering Consultant. Bridging Maryland Partnership will perform planning, engineering, construction management and program support services to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This announcement comes as the MDTA begins pre-construction activities and launches a communications strategy providing transparent and reliable updates throughout the project. 

MDTA released a request for proposals on July 19, 2024, inviting teams to submit technical proposals for the General Engineering Consultant contract. The proposals, received at the end of September, were evaluated by the MDTA selection committee, and the contract was awarded to the team with the highest ranked technical proposal. The open-ended, task-order-based contract has a 31.5% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal and will not exceed a duration of five years. 

Bridging Maryland Partnership will serve as MDTA’s engineering representative for the Key Bridge Rebuild, ensuring the accelerated design and construction process remains on track. The team will provide a wide range of support services, such as risk management/analyses; establishing, reviewing, tracking and monitoring cost and schedules; managing project documentation; consulting with environmental regulators; and overseeing DBE compliance, among other services. Bridging Maryland Partnership will also manage the Progressive Design-Builder, Kiewit Infrastructure Co., by auditing their processes, reviewing submittals and confirming the design criteria is met. Kiewit Infrastructure Co. was previously awarded a contract by MDTA on August 29, 2024, to complete the design and have the opportunity to negotiate a construction agreement for the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement. 

Pre-Construction Activities:

As the Key Bridge Rebuild project moves forward, the Progressive-Design Builder is advancing design efforts. To support this, pre-construction activities will take place both on land and on the water beginning in January, and continuing over the next few months. These activities will provide vital datapoints to inform design and construction decisions.

On the water, construction crews on barges, drills, cranes, tugs, and service vessels will begin various activities, such as drilling to collect soil samples and mapping subsurface waterways. Workers will be active both on land and in the water as they carry out these tasks. Noise impacts and traffic disruptions will be minimal, and these activities are not expected to significantly affect navigation on the Patapsco River. 

“This is a monumental project for the region, and we’re committed to keeping the public informed every step of the way,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chairman Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These early activities are crucial in setting the foundation for a safe, efficient and sustainable bridge for the future.”

This video, featuring MDTA Chief Engineer Jim Harkness, provides more information on what these pre-construction activities are and how they help rebuild the Key Bridge. Click here to watch the video. 

Key Bridge Rebuild Facebook Page:

MDTA remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency and collaboration, ensuring that all stakeholders, from local communities to industry experts, can actively participate in this critical project. To enhance communication and engagement, MDTA has launched the Key Bridge Rebuild Facebook page. This platform will serve as a vital resource for sharing real-time updates, key milestones and progress reports, providing the public with ongoing insight into the rebuild process and promoting open dialogue. Other communication resources for the Key Bridge Rebuild include: 

• KeyBridgeRebuild.com;

• Subscribing to the Key Bridge mailing list;

• Emailing [email protected]; and

• Calling 800-515-7030.

As design advances, the MDTA will continue to engage with Marylanders on the future of the bridge. Visit KeyBridgeRebuild.com and follow us on Facebook (Key Bridge Rebuild) for Key Bridge Rebuild updates.

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