Maryland

Maryland board to consider $50M contract with Skanska for Key Bridge cleanup

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2024

Maryland board to consider M contract with Skanska for Key Bridge cleanup

Baltimore’s shipping channel is fully re-opened after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and the cargo ship Dali, which knocked the bridge over, will soon head out of town — but the bills from the disaster’s cleanup are starting to come in.

Maryland’s Board of Public Works will consider at its next meeting a $50.3 million contract between the Maryland Transportation Authority and Skanska, a Swedish construction company, for “removal, disposal and cleanup of debris” following the collapse of the Key Bridge. The proposal is on the board’s July 3 agenda, which was posted Friday.

“The debris consists mainly of large sections of highway bridge trusses, steel girders, the bridge deck, and concrete parapets,” the agenda item stated.

The contract was awarded April 23, according to the agenda item, and will last six months, until Oct. 22. A Skanska news release last week noted that the contract’s work would conclude in July. The contract will be 100% funded by state toll revenue, the agenda item stated, however, the transportation authority “anticipates that this work is eligible for federal reimbursement.”

The cargo ship Dali lost power in the early hours of March 26 and crashed into a Key Bridge support pier, knocking the span into the water and killing six construction workers. The debris blocked the shipping pathway for months, but the 700-foot wide, 50-feet deep channel fully reopened last week.

The Skanska contract is not for clearing that precise channel, however, but for the surrounding area — including the temporary channels used by salvage and commercial vessels following the collapse.

“The debris in the federal channel of the river was removed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),” the agenda item stated. “The MDTA is responsible for removing the debris from the areas outside of the federal channel.”

The transportation authority initiated the contract on an emergency basis with Skanska, rather than following the typical procurement process, because of the “urgency of completion,” as well as the risk of “underwater demolition.”

“Procuring the debris removal through competitive bidding would have delayed the removal by a minimum of eight months,” according to the agenda item.

Skanska was chosen, in part, because it “successfully demolished the existing Nice/Middleton Bridge across the Potomac River,” which also meant it was “already mobilized” nearby.

Efforts to remove roughly 50,000 tons of steel and roadway from the Patapsco River have cost at least $160 million in federal funds thus far. Democratic President Joe Biden authorized $60 million in federal emergency relief funds to the state in the days following the disaster and the Army corps, as well as the Coast Guard, spent roughly $100 million on cleanup.

The rebuilt bridge, which is expected to open by October 2028, will cost an estimated $1.7 billion. Proposals are due Monday and the transportation authority is expected to pick a building team by the end of the summer.

The Dali has remained in Baltimore since the collapse but is tentatively scheduled to depart Monday morning for Norfolk, Virginia, for further repairs.

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Maryland

Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays .8M in prizes

SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.

The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.

Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.

ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month

The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.

The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.

The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.

More information is available at mdlottery.com.

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For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Maryland

SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.

“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”

The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.

In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.

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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.

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Maryland

Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.

Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.

According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.

ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured

Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.

No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.

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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.

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