Congressman Nfume urges delegation to keep Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild on schedule, cites economic stakes

Congressman Nfume told the Baltimore County House delegation on April 3 that reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is proceeding but remains vulnerable to delays, and he asked local legislators to "be stewards of the process" to prevent the opening from slipping "a year down the road or two years down the road."

The congressman said recent settlements in lawsuits against the company involved have eased at least some legal obstacles and that the project receives formal status reports "every 90 days" to congressional transportation and appropriations committees. He cited precedent from the 2008 Minneapolis bridge collapse to argue that Congress can — and historically has — cover the full cost of emergency bridge reconstruction.

Why it matters: Nfume framed the bridge as an economic lifeline for the Port of Baltimore and the region, saying delays have ripple effects on freight, jobs and commuting. He warned that the bridge’s absence has already increased congestion on I-695 and I-95 and is contributing to structural damage in adjacent neighborhoods because heavy trucks have rerouted through residential streets.

Delegates pressed related local transportation questions during the meeting. Several raised the long-running Red Line transit proposal, with Delegate Shielruth and others arguing that rail — not bus rapid transit — would better deliver transit-oriented development in Woodlawn. Nfume said the Red Line effort has received planning grants ("we got $2,000,000 in a planning grant"), but he warned that loss of congressional momentum after elections has hindered larger appropriation efforts.

Delegates also discussed short-term mobility fixes. Delegate Long urged prompt restoration of a local bridge and bus service to TradePoint Atlantic to preserve worker access to jobs, and Delegate Ross asked how frequently the Maryland delegation receives updates on the Key Bridge schedule to monitor cost and material-driven delays. Nfume said the delegation reviews the project every quarter and that appropriators on both sides of the aisle are involved.

A related concern raised at the meeting was the pause in disadvantaged-business certification programs. Delegates warned that the temporary halt to DBE/MBE recertification could prevent minority- and women-owned firms from participating in major infrastructure contracts, including bridge construction. Nfume said federal and state leaders must prepare legislative or executive strategies to preserve competitive opportunities for those firms.

What’s next: Nfume asked delegates to continue regular communication with the federal delegation and to keep public attention on the project. No formal votes or actions were taken at the meeting; the delegation had no legislative business scheduled and adjourned after the question-and-answer session.