The **Francis Scott Key Bridge** is a major steel-arched continuous-truss bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, that opened on March 23, 1977. Spanning the Patapsco River, it completed the Interstate 695 Baltimore Beltway and measures approximately 1.6 miles in length, making it one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the United States. Designed to alleviate traffic congestion from the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, it carries four lanes of traffic, including commercial vehicles, and allows the transport of hazardous materials, which tunnels restrict[1][3]. Historically, the bridge was a significant engineering milestone for Maryland’s transportation infrastructure. Built at a cost of about $110 million in the 1970s (roughly $316 million adjusted for inflation), it has been vital to regional commerce, carrying over 12 million vehicles annually as of 2023 and generating about $57 million in toll revenue for the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)[1][2][3]. The bridge serves as a critical artery for the Port of Baltimore, one of America’s busiest ports, handling 52 million tons of cargo and supporting $80 billion in U.S. trade, particularly for automobiles and light trucks[2]. Tragically, on March 26, 2024, the bridge was struck by a container ship named the *Dali*, causing a partial collapse and significant disruption. This event severed a key East-West transportation route, crippling access to the Port of Baltimore and impacting regional supply chains, businesses, and employment across the Baltimore-Washington corridor[1][3][4]. The collapse has prompted a large-scale reconstruction effort using a progressive design-build delivery method, with cost estimates ranging from $400 million to $2 billion and an unclear timeline, though rebuilding is expected to take several years[2][6]. In response to the disaster, local and state authorities, including Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, have unveiled new bridge design concepts and