Maryland Approves $50M Contract to Remove Debris from Key Bridge – NBC4 Washington

Governor Wes Moore’s Maryland board approved a $50.3 million emergency contract to pay Skanska USA Civil Southeast Inc., a Swedish construction company that removed debris from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed debris from the federal channel, Skanska was hired to clear other channels. Marshall Brown of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust criticized the emergency no-bid contract, stating that other contractors could have been considered. However, Bruce Gartner of the Maryland Transportation Authority defended the decision, citing the urgency of the situation. Competitive bidding for debris removal would have caused an eight-month delay according to board documents. Governor Moore emphasized the importance of rebuilding the bridge, calling it essential for Maryland’s and the national economy. The estimated cost for a new bridge is between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with construction planned by the fall of 2028. The bridge collapsed in March when the cargo ship Dali lost power and crashed into a supporting column, resulting in the death of six workers. Moore thanked President Biden’s administration for including a 100% federal cost share for the rebuild. The state is working to build a bipartisan coalition for the reconstruction of the bridge.

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