Baltimore, Maryland, USA
A month after the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident, CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati proposes a new design for its replacement redefining the entrance to the historic Baltimore Harbor and restore a landmark of the city.
The redesign project includes several improvements regarding both safety and long-term adaptability.
The span of the bridge is proposed to be increased from 1200 ft to 2230 ft.
The main support pillars are also repositioned in more shallow water, away from the navigation channel used by large vessels.
This is done in response to the events of March 26th, when a large cargo ship struck a critical component of the bridge while exiting the Port of Baltimore, causing one of America’s most devastating bridge collapses in over a decade.
The project includes smart features to allow for safe traffic management and predictive maintenance techniques.
This further develops Carlo Ratti’s “Good Vibrations” project at MIT, investigating innovative ways to monitor the structural safety of bridges.
The capacity is also increased in the proposal, with the addition of a new lane in each direction to accommodate for larger vehicle capacity.
The design also increases the bridge clearance from 185 ft to 230 ft (70 m) to accommodate the larger vessels that are appearing in the shipping industry.
Project: Francis Scott Key Bridge
Architects: Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA)
Engineering: Michel Virlogeux
Contractors: WeBuild
Renderings: Brick Visual
