BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transportation Authority released new renderings of the replacement Francis Scott Key Bridge, providing the most detailed look to date at the two-mile span planned over the Patapsco River as demolition and test pile work continue.

The new bridge would feature two 12-foot lanes in each direction, along with 10-foot-wide outside shoulders and 4-foot-wide inside shoulders, according to the agency. The deck would rise about 230 feet above the federal shipping channel, allowing for the safe passage of large vessels beneath.

“The rebuild project is rooted in the needs of local communities — supporting daily life, strengthening connections, supporting the movement of people and goods across the country, and ensuring a modern bridge that will serve Marylanders and beyond for generations to come,” MDTA officials said in the first edition of “KEYnected,” an online publication documenting the progress of the bridge.

The rebuild follows the catastrophic collapse of the Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, when the cargo ship Dali struck a support column, sending much of the structure into the Patapsco River. The disaster killed six construction workers and disrupted one of the East Coast’s busiest shipping routes. State and federal officials have pledged to complete a new bridge by 2028.

The National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to meet on Nov. 18 to discuss the incident. That session, however, could be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues.

Demolition of the old bridge is well underway, according to MDTA officials. Crews have removed all 20,000 tons of concrete decking from the north and south spans, roughly the weight of 4,000 adult elephants.

Some of that material will be reused in the new construction. Next, workers will begin dismantling the steel girders on the south side, each weighing about 50,000 pounds. The girders will be torch-cut and lowered by crane before being sent to approved recycling facilities.

Noise and vibration monitors have been placed around the project area and nearby communities to collect data and track conditions during construction.

The MDTA reported that six massive steel test piles, each eight feet in diameter and more than 220 feet long, arrived in Baltimore by barge earlier this month. Made with American steel, the piles are part of a Test Pile Program that began in early October. Over the next several weeks, crews will drive a total of 12 test piles into the riverbed, a process expected to occur on weekdays and Saturdays during daylight hours.

Before pile driving begins, construction teams install an air bubble curtain system to protect aquatic life from underwater noise. The system releases billions of bubbles that create a cushion to absorb sound and vibration. Scientists and engineers monitor the system in real time to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

MDTA communications and marketing officer Allison Persing has been documenting the progress through on-site video updates, including a recent feature on the bubble curtain system.

Beyond the work on the Patapsco River, MDTA officials said outreach teams have been visiting communities across Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City since June to share information about the rebuild. Project representatives also attended the Cox Creek Open House on Oct. 18, where residents learned more about the reconstruction effort and took part in the Maryland Port Authority’s “Touch a Truck” event.

Officials said those community engagement efforts are intended to promote transparency and public involvement as Maryland works to restore one of its most critical transportation links.

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