U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Approves Permit for Francis Scott Key Bridge Reconstruction

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has issued a key permit for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The permit, granted on March 5, 2025, allows the Maryland Transportation Authority to proceed with the new bridge, which will reconnect the I-695 Baltimore Beltway and restore community access lost after the original bridge collapsed, resulting in six fatalities.

In 2024, the Baltimore District’s Regulatory Branch approved preliminary construction activities, including explosive demolition and the removal of the remaining bridge structures. The agency has remained involved through regular interagency meetings. The new bridge design includes reinforced pier foundations, pier protection islands, and six dolphins, with construction set to impact approximately 12.71 acres of the tidal Patapsco River. Temporary construction measures will also affect an additional 9.19 acres of the river.

Geotechnical investigations are currently underway, with test pile operations, pier demolition, and trestle construction expected to start in the summer of 2025. Actual in-water bridge construction is scheduled for early fall. The project also requires similar permit approval from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The USACE permit was issued under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulate construction in navigable waters and the discharge of fill materials, respectively. The new bridge will be constructed over the Patapsco River’s Fort McHenry Federal Channel without altering the channel’s dimensions. The Baltimore District, authorized to maintain the Baltimore Harbor and Channels project since 1917, will continue oversight during construction.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

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