Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation have announced plans to introduce a bill that will ensure the federal government covers the entire cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed last month after being struck by a cargo ship. Typically, the federal government covers 90% of the cost for replacing disaster-damaged interstate highways and bridges, with the state responsible for the remaining 10%. However, in this emergency case, lawmakers are seeking full federal funding for the reconstruction.
The estimated cost of rebuilding the bridge is around $400 million, with a projected timeline of at least 18 months for completion. The final cost will depend on the design and technologies incorporated to accommodate increased barge traffic compared to the bridge's original capacity from the 1970s.
