Some businesses near Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge site say they’re taking the extended reconstruction timeline in stride, but others warn the prolonged detours and declining traffic are already straining their bottom lines.
The Maryland Transportation Authority announced Monday that the rebuild of the bridge, which collapsed in March 2024, killing six construction workers, is now expected to be completed in late 2030, with a revised budget between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion. The original estimate — released just weeks after the March 2024 collapse — placed costs between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion and projected reopening in 2028.
Material expenses and project requirements have “increased drastically” based on findings made after the design phase and during early preconstruction work, said Samantha J. Biddle, the state’s transportation secretary.
Marc Tsakiris, co-owner of the Boulevard Diner on Merritt Boulevard and Holabird Avenue in Dundalk, said business has fallen sharply since the Key Bridge collapse nearby — a decline he fears will deepen as the reconstruction timeline stretches. Tsakiris said sales dropped by several hundred thousand dollars since the disaster, noting fewer regulars and steep declines in traffic in and out of the area.
Some longtime customers have told him they simply can’t make the trip anymore because of the detours, he added.
“I had friends who had to move because their commute was affected by the bridge,” Tsakiris said. “We had some regulars come in and say, ‘We can’t make it here as much because of the bridge.’ It’s tough. It seems very political, but what can you do?”
Del. LaToya Nkongolo, a Republican representing Anne Arundel County, said the collapse of the original 2028 timeline is already carrying real consequences.
“Businesses that rely on bridge-related commerce are facing prolonged economic hardship, and residents are enduring increased congestion, longer commutes, and a significant decline in their overall quality of life,” she said. “Our constituents deserve better accountability, better planning, and better leadership.”
For other companies, the biggest disruption came not from the bridge’s absence but from the shutdown of the shipping channel. The Port of Baltimore closed from March 26 to June 10, 2024, after the container ship Dali lost power and struck a support pier, blocking the main waterway.
“Fortunately for me, the Key Bridge really does not impact my business,” said Michael Clark, president of BTR Capital Group, a Baltimore-based warehousing and logistics company that has a warehouse on Broening Highway near the port. However, “we were greatly impacted from the closure of the port last year.”
Local officials have worked to offset those losses caused by the bridge collapse.
In June, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation and the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program awarded $1 million to 24 businesses affected by the collapse. The funding came through the Baltimore Community Foundation’s Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, supported by community donations.
Capital SUP, a stand-up paddleboard and kayak rental company, received a $50,000 grant. CEO Kevin Haigis said the business was hit hard when the shipping route closed, though the ongoing bridge construction has not affected daily operations.
The Maryland Port Administration said it had no issues with the extra time needed to complete the bridge.
“We’re pleased that the process is moving forward and that the new Key Bridge will be completed as efficiently, safely and as cost-effectively as possible,” spokesperson Richard Scher wrote in an email.
Mennatalla Ibrahim contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.