Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse:
A Look at Years of Missed Safety Opportunities

Early Studies on Key Bridge Collapse Show Missed Opportunities

Key Bridge Collapse Safety Concerns

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Maryland officials took a close look at the safety of some important bridges. One of the bridges they focused on was the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. In the early 2000s, the state asked engineers to study how to protect the bridge from possible dangers like a ship crashing into it.

These studies were done because of the growing concern about the safety of big structures after the 9/11 attacks. Engineers looked at five major bridges in Maryland, including the Key Bridge. The studies from 2002 and 2004 suggested adding protective features to the bridge to prevent damage from an intentional attack. One idea was to build barriers around the bridge’s supports to protect them from being hit by ships.

What the Studies Found

Even though a lot of information from these studies was kept secret, some details were shared. Engineers from Ammann & Whitney Consulting Engineers and Wallace Montgomery & Associates visited the Key Bridge and checked for possible threats. They focused on how the bridge might be damaged by a ship impact or an explosion.

The studies revealed that the Key Bridge had four protective barriers, called dolphins, built around its supports. However, these dolphins, which were constructed in 1977, were too small and outdated for modern standards. Over the years, ships have become much larger, and the old protective measures were no longer enough to keep the bridge safe.

The reports also mentioned a “cost/benefit evaluation,” which looked at the costs of adding more protection versus the risks of not doing so. Despite these findings, no major actions were taken to improve the bridge’s safety.

The Key Bridge Collapse

On March 26, 2024, a terrible accident happened. A large container ship called the Dali lost power as it was leaving Baltimore and crashed into the Key Bridge. The impact caused part of the bridge to collapse, killing six workers who were repairing the roadway. The collapse also sent tons of debris into the Patapsco River, blocking the shipping channel and causing major disruptions.

This tragic event showed that the warnings from the early 2000s studies were valid. The bridge had been vulnerable for more than 20 years, and the lack of action led to a disaster that could have been prevented.

Why More Wasn’t Done

Looking back, many people wonder why more wasn’t done to protect the Key Bridge after the studies in the early 2000s. Former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening, who was in office during the time of the studies, said he wished the state had taken stronger actions. He explained that there were many safety concerns after 9/11, and although several studies were done, little real action followed.

Robert Flanagan, Maryland’s transportation secretary from 2003 to 2007, said that while there was a lot of concern about the safety of structures like the Key Bridge, there wasn’t enough money to follow through on all the recommendations. He mentioned that the state was trying to meet new federal safety standards, which also required a lot of resources.

Ongoing Safety Discussions

Despite the lack of action in the early 2000s, discussions about protecting Maryland’s bridges have continued. The Port of Baltimore Harbor Coordination and Safety Committee has talked about the risk of ships hitting the Key Bridge and the Bay Bridge several times since then.

In 2007, there were talks about adding non-physical protection measures to the bridges, but again, money was a big concern. In 2014, the committee discussed how Maryland was one of the few states that did not protect its bridges from ship strikes, and the cost of adding such protection was a major topic.

Now, after the tragic collapse, plans are in motion to replace the Key Bridge with a new one. The new bridge, expected to cost about $1.7 billion, will have a wider span, moving the supports farther from the shipping channel to reduce the risk of collisions. It will likely include physical barriers like artificial islands to protect the supports.

The state is also considering adding protection to the Bay Bridge, with a project budgeted at $145 million, possibly starting in the winter of 2027-28. These steps, though late, show a growing recognition of the need to protect important infrastructure from both accidents and intentional attacks.

Looking Ahead

The studies from the early 2000s identified the dangers that the Key Bridge faced, but not enough was done to address those risks. The tragic collapse in 2024 was a costly reminder of the importance of acting on safety warnings. As Maryland moves forward with plans to replace the Key Bridge and protect other structures, the lessons from the past will hopefully lead to better safeguards in the future.