Maryland residents weigh in on demolition plans for remaining Key Bridge structures
BALTIMORE - Crews are planning to demolish the final pieces of the Key Bridge in preparation for a new span.
The Maryland Department of the Environment held a public hearing Thursday for residents to weigh in on those plans four months after a cargo ship struck the bridge, causing it to collapse and killing six construction workers.
More than 50,000 tons of Key Bridge wreckage have already been removed from the Patapsco River.
Public comment
At the North Point Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, the first hour of the meeting was for residents to learn about the concepts being developed to remove the approaches and piers.
A brief presentation on the work that lies ahead followed then rolled right into public comment from elected officials and members of surrounding communities.
"I'm concerned about the environment," said Fiona Ziemski, from Dundalk. "But at the same time, trying to balance out getting the bridge out as soon as possible because it very much does impact the community."
Agencies in charge said protecting the environmental is paramount through this process.
Removal process
The Maryland Department of Transportation Authority said it aims for crews to begin the removal process later this fall and will take 10 months to complete.
The first phase will include mechanical demolition, which means cutting, chopping and chiseling parts of the superstructure away from the piers. The next phase would include bringing those structures down by use of explosives.
Barges and other equipment will be used to remove any debris that falls into the Patapsco River during this process.
Raising the new bridge height up to 230 feet, MDTA Director of Project Development, Brian Wolfe said a new foundation system must be built to support the load.
"The hard requirement that we have is that we go two feet below the mud line that is to eliminate any type of conflict for any boating that may be in the channel," Wolfe said.
"Things like water quality, things like debris in the water, how we do the work to minimize impacts and disturbance to the river," Wolfe said.
A replacement rebuild public hearing is set for September 17 where residents can weigh on that portion of the future project, which is estimated to be completed by October 2028.
The design for a replacement bridge is still in the works.