Designs unveiled for replacement of Baltimore bridge almost a year after deadly collapse

abcnews.go.com:

Maryland officials have unveiled their designs for replacing Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge almost a year after it collapsed under the weight of a cargo ship that lost power and veered off course

SPARROWS POINT, Md. — Almost a year after the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maryland officials on Tuesday unveiled their designs for its replacement, which will be taller and better protected against ship strikes.

Construction of the state’s first cable-stayed bridge could be completed in 2028 and cost upwards of $1.7 billion.

With its graceful outline and delicate design, officials said the new bridge will modernize Baltimore’s skyline, becoming a symbol of resilience, progress and economic growth. The design features two towers with cables radiating down to the deck.

“This is a great day for the state of Maryland,” Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference late Tuesday morning. “But it’s not lost on me that today’s triumph was born out of tragedy.”

The original Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span at the mouth of Baltimore’s harbor, took five years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It connected various port-oriented industrial communities around Baltimore and allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown.

The bridge was destroyed when a massive container ship lost power and slammed into one of its supporting columns. The March 26 collapse killed six construction workers who were filling potholes when the structure crumbled beneath them. Baltimore’s port was closed for months after the collapse, and increased traffic congestion remains a problem for drivers across the region.

Officials quickly promised to rebuild the bridge — a longstanding Baltimore landmark and vital piece