JoeAndrucyk@gmail.com 410-991-4372
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, Moore-Miller Administration officials, elected leadership, first responders, community members, and families gathered in Baltimore to commemorate the second anniversary of the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Together, they prayed for the Marylanders who lost their lives when the bridge fell; recognized the heroic acts of first responders who saved hundreds of lives; celebrated the resilience of the Port of Baltimore and its communities; and reaffirmed their commitment to rebuilding the bridge in partnership with local, state, and federal partners.
“March 26, 2024, is a date etched forever into the story of Maryland, not only because of the horror, but for the heroism we witnessed,” said Gov. Moore. “We will never forget the six patriots who were taken from us, for they are not gone who live in the hearts of others. Today, we honor the victims, their families, and every Marylander who stepped up to serve—showing what it means to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong.”
In the early morning hours of March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The allision caused the bridge’s catastrophic collapse, causing the tragic death of six men and injuries to two others.
The wreckage from the bridge lay for weeks in the Patapsco River as members of the Unified Command—comprising the United States Coast Guard; the United States Army Corps of Engineers; the United States Navy; the Maryland State Police; the Maryland Transportation Authority; and myriad State and local agencies and partners—worked tirelessly to survey the damage, chart a path for recovery, and provide closure to the families who lost loved ones.
Governor Moore: “In the faces of one of the worst tragedies in our state’s history, it was Marylanders who stepped up to serve, who were woken in the middle of the night and were some of the first ones in the water; the ones who were making sure that people would stay off of the bridge; it’s the firefighters who ran towards the danger before they even had a full understanding of what the danger was. They just did it because people needed help.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge was a vital economic and transportation artery for the region, connecting thousands of Maryland commuters and commercial vehicles daily. Its critical function supported the Port of Baltimore, which generates an annual economic impact of more than $70 billion and links more than 273,000 jobs to its activities.
Immediately following the collapse of the bridge, state, local, and federal partners worked tirelessly to advance recovery operations. In only 78 days, the Unified Command removed more than 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River to restore the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, welcoming back global shipping businesses and cruises and getting Marylanders back to work.
Governor Moore: “There were no guarantees that we were going to be successful in the work that we were doing. The only thing we knew that morning was that we were now looking at a catastrophe that this state had never seen before. But we stayed together. We stayed focused. We never forgot about those who we were searching for and eventually lost, and we showed the country what it meant to be Maryland Tough and Baltimore Strong.”
The recovery mission included the distribution of more than $42 million in emergency funding from State agencies to keep impacted businesses open and support affected workers in surrounding communities. The rapid response to the crisis—driven by more than 1,500 people from federal, state, and local agencies—allowed the rebuilding to start quickly, while jumpstarting the Port of Baltimore’s recovery.
In September 2024, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the Dali for their reckless actions that caused the allision and the bridge’s subsequent collapse. The State's investigation revealed that the massive disaster was entirely preventable for several reasons. For example, the Dali had experienced two power failures the day before the allision, but failed to diagnose or correct the failures prior to leaving its berth.
Pre-construction activities for the rebuild began in January 2025, including detailed engineering tests that provided vital data points to inform design and construction decisions. The project’s test pile program—a critical process to ensure a sound foundation design—began in the fall of 2025 and reached completion ahead of schedule last month. January of this year marked the beginning of platform construction, which will allow supplies, construction personnel, and equipment to reach the pier sites more efficiently to accelerate the construction process.
Full reconstruction of the Key Bridge is anticipated to begin later this year, with completion anticipated for late 2030.
“As we reflect on the moment that changed Maryland two years ago today, we remember the victims, their families, the first responders, and all our partners who showed the world that we can accomplish great results when we work together,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “The Maryland Transportation Authority is working at breakneck speed to make the region whole again and rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. As the new bridge begins to emerge from the Patapsco River, MDOT is committed to providing commuters with relief and reducing congestion across the Baltimore region.”
On Tuesday, Governor Moore visited the Port of Baltimore, announcing its second-best year ever for total cargo vessel visits and container activity—handling approximately 50 million tons of cargo in 2025 at its state-owned public and private marine terminals. The 2025 total exceeded the 45.9 million tons of cargo handled in 2024, finishing only behind 2023’s record of 52.3 million tons. The total cargo handled last year had a value of $65.6 billion—the third-highest in the Port’s history. Although the bridge collapse’s long-term impacts on the Port of Baltimore are still being quantified, these results are direct evidence that our recovery efforts helped to avoid a much larger disaster for the Baltimore region and Maryland.
“Thanks to Governor Moore's leadership and the overall resiliency of our port partners and supply chain, we had a record-breaking year for containers and our second-best year overall in 2025,” said Maryland Port Administration Deputy Executive Director Brian Miller. “Although we are proud of these successes, we are still fully rebounding from the devastating impacts of the Key Bridge incident. We look forward to continuing our recovery in 2026.”
As the design and construction process continues, the Moore-Miller Administration is committed to continuing work with federal partners to ensure fair cost sharing. The administration also continues to prioritize community outreach and engagement, having hosted more than 100 pop-up events and 50 speaking engagements and making more than 6,400 connections with local communities as the rebuild continues.
“While today is a time to remember those we lost, the MDTA remains focused on rebuilding the Key Bridge and reconnecting the communities we serve,” said Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Bruce Gartner. “Progress is advancing at an unprecedented pace for a project of this magnitude, with the advancement of design, the completion of demolition of the remaining land structures, and critical permitting all achieved in an accelerated timeframe through close coordination with our local, state, and federal partners. Together, we are rebuilding a bridge that will serve as a lasting symbol of strength and renewal for generations to come.”
The governor’s engagements today reflect the State’s ongoing commitment to restore the Francis Scott Key Bridge as the integral link between impacted communities and Maryland’s economy.
Joe Andrucyk 410-991-4372
The governor began the day by reuniting with one survivor and the families of those who lost their lives after the Dali caused the Key Bridge to collapse. Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller met with the families to lay a wreath at the water’s edge in their honor.
“Two years have now passed, but the memories and connections of Maryland’s public safety community remain strong,” said Maryland Transportation Authority Police Chief Colonel Joseph F. Scott. “Those who rushed to the scene that morning remember the heartbreak as we mourned for those we lost, the collaboration among first responders who had never met, and the unwavering support of a community who met the moment.”
The governor then joined elected leaders to observe the construction underway for the bridge rebuild. The State has been rapidly progressing design for the new bridge while simultaneously advancing critical path construction activities. The State anticipates reaching the 100% design milestone by July of this year.
“Two years after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maryland is focused on what comes next,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. "We are rebuilding stronger, safer, and with a clear commitment to the future of our communities and our economy. The Port of Baltimore is resilient, and so are the people who power it. Rebuilding this bridge is not just about restoring what was lost—it’s about building something stronger for generations to come. And we will not stop until the job is done.”
Following the tour of the rebuild construction zone, Governor Moore, Moore-Miller Administration officials, and elected leaders convened to offer reflections on the anniversary; to honor those who lost their lives; to thank those who acted courageously to save others; and to affirm their commitment to seeing the rebuild process through to the end in partnership with local, state, and federal partners.
Governor Moore: “At a time when too many people wonder whether building big and great things is still possible in our country, Maryland, once again, is going to lead the way and show what is possible. We will continue to recover, we will continue to rebuild, and we will continue to do it together, and we'll keep moving forward until a new Key Bridge arches over Baltimore's stunning skyline once again.”
