BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Before the state of Maryland decided to take an off-ramp with the construction company already hired to build the new Key Bridge, the cost of the final project may have hit nearly $10 billion, according to Maryland’s lone Republican congressman.
State and federal officials made a joint announcement last week that the current contract with Kiewit would not move forward to finish the Key Bridge rebuild, citing concerns with the timeline and cost. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris said he heard the number for the Kiewit-built Key Bridge may have been between $8 and $9 billion.
Harris made the comments Monday morning while on WBAL Radio during an interview with C4 and Bryan Nehman. The estimate was based on discussions and briefings he’s participated in through his work on the Appropriations Committee, according to this staff, including internal, non-public conversations with other members.
“That is going to show just gross mismanagement,” he said during the radio interview.
Pointing to rising material costs, Harris also said Maryland’s minority business program for contractors may have played a role in the rising cost, but he also cited union agreements.
“The state chose a project labor agreement which can increase the cost from 20-25%,” Harris added.
State leaders announced in November 2025 the latest estimate for the Key Bridge rebuild effort would cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with a target completion date of the end of 2030. That estimate came after the original price tag was set at around $2 billion.
After announcing the news to move away from Kiewit, state leaders have yet to provide many details about why the decision was specifically made.
“If the cost overrun was so great, let’s talk about it,” Harris said. “There’s a feeling in Congress that this was bait and switch.”
The state will find a new contractor, and MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said an industry forum will take place later in May, and the bid process will be explained to companies then. It’s possible a new company is brought on board to continue construction when Kiewit’s Phase I is complete at the end of 2026.
“We are going to get all those facts out to the industry so that we can have a competitive process because I think that’s, you know, part of what we really desire and is desired by all constituencies related to this project is that we get a fair competitive price for the bridge,” Gartner said during an interview with FOX45 News Monday.
Gartner pushed back on the notion that something went wrong with the current plan, arguing Maryland always had the ‘off-ramp’ option in the contract to go in a different direction.
It’s unclear exactly how much the Kiewit-backed plan would cost; Gartner refused to disclose specifics and instead said those Kiewit’s details to explain. The state’s estimates, along with federal input, put the price in the “$5 billion range,” Gartner said.
“I’m just going to say we were substantially different and we couldn’t close the gap,” he said.
Congressman Harris argued project labor agreements played a role in the growing price from Kiewit. Those agreements were something brought forward by Kiewit, according to Gartner.
The state was “just trying to get as much labor force onto this project,” Gartner said, adding that MDTA was “supportive” of the PLAs, given the local hiring and workforce development goals that came with them.
“But we’re keeping an open mind in that,” Gartner said.
It’s also not clear if project-labor agreements will get approval at the federal level as this next round of procurement unfolds. When the previous agreement was approved, there was a different administration in the White House, Gartner noted.
“The U.S. DOT now, they haven’t been approving project labor agreements on federally funded highway projects,” he explained.
John Dedie, a political analyst in the Baltimore area, said people are growing frustrated with the apparent slow-moving construction, even if progress has been made in the last two years.
“The state has done a poor job of advertising here’s what we’ve gotten done regarding this,” Dedie said. “If there’s progress, people define progress on this bridge is one thing. Is it up yet? Is it running? Am I able to drive over it? Until then, there is no progress in the state.”
As the state marked two years since the collapse in March, Gov. Moore touted the project as one of the “fastest large project int eh country.” But now, it’s not clear if the project is still on track for completion by the end of 2030.
“We obviously have had this change in procurement strategy, so it’ll be a challenge,” he said. “We’re just trying to get it built as fast as possible.”
When asked about concerns from people in the area about the progress, Gov. Moore said he understands it can be difficult to see what’s been accomplished.
“I want to be the governor that cuts the ribbon on this,” he said. “That is my plan. And that is how fast we are moving.”
Now, however, it’s not clear if Gov. Moore will be the one cutting the ribbon on a new Key Bridge.
“I don’t see him at the ribbon cutting because it’s still going to take months before they pick a new contractor,” Dedie said. “Then that they’re going to the state’s going to have certain requirements on this. So, it’s going to take a long period of time.”
Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.
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