Bridge Construction Safety Rails: Maryland Key Bridge Rebuild

Supporting the Maryland Key Bridge Construction Rebuild with Safety Rails

The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™   is supporting the rebuild of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one of the most complex infrastructure projects underway in the United States.

Aerial view of the Maryland Key Bridge Rebuild Courtesy of Fox 5 Washington DC

Spanning 1.7 miles across the Patapsco River, the new bridge will carry I-695 traffic around Baltimore and restore a critical transportation corridor. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has partnered with Kiewit to lead the effort, bringing together large-scale engineering, tight timelines, and a strong focus on safety from day one.

Projects at this scale demand safety systems that can perform consistently across changing elevations, open edges, and evolving work zones.

That is where bridge construction safety rails become critical.

The Challenge: Leading-Edge Fall Protection on a Bridge Build

Bridge construction introduces a different level of exposure compared to vertical builds or interior work.

Crews are working:

• Along long, continuous leading edges
• Over water and active work zones
• Across multiple phases with changing elevations
• Under aggressive schedules where delays compound quickly

Traditional job-built wood guardrails are difficult to manage in this environment. They require constant rebuilding, introduce inconsistency, and slow crews down as the project evolves.

For a project like the Key Bridge rebuild, safety systems must be:

• Consistent across miles of work area
• Fast to install and relocate
• Durable enough to withstand long-term exposure
• Reliable without constant rework

The Solution: Engineered Bridge Construction Safety Rails

The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ is designed to meet the demands of large-scale infrastructure projects like bridge construction.

Unlike job-built wood rails, this is an engineered system built for repeat use and consistent performance.

Key advantages on bridge construction projects include:

• OSHA-compliant safety rail system that maintains proper height and integrity every time
• Rapid installation to keep crews moving without delays
• Reusable steel construction that holds up through long project timelines
• Modular design that adapts to changing phases and elevations
• Reduced labor compared to building and rebuilding wood rails

Instead of rebuilding protection at every phase, crews can deploy a system that moves with the project.

Built for Scale, Efficiency, and Long-Term Use

The Key Bridge rebuild is being completed in phases, starting with pre-construction and moving into full design and construction.

As work progresses, safety systems need to keep pace without creating bottlenecks.

The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ supports that by:

• Breaking down quickly for transport across the jobsite
• Reinstalling without retraining or redesign
• Eliminating material waste from disposable wood systems
• Maintaining consistent protection across all phases

On a multi-year bridge project, those efficiencies add up fast in both labor savings and reduced downtime.

Setting a Higher Standard for Bridge Construction Safety

Large infrastructure projects are raising the bar for how safety is implemented on the jobsite.

Bridge construction safety rails need to do more than meet minimum requirements. They need to support productivity, reduce risk, and perform reliably across every phase of the build.

Engineered, reusable systems are replacing traditional methods because they deliver:

• Better consistency
• Faster deployment
• Lower long-term cost
• Stronger jobsite performance

For projects like the Maryland Key Bridge rebuild, that shift is not optional. It is necessary.

Project Details

Client: Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)
General Contractor: Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
Project: Key Bridge Rebuild
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Scope: Replacement of 1.7-mile bridge over the Patapsco River
Phases: Phase 1: Pre-construction and planning (in progress)
Phase 2: Design, engineering, and construction
Hilmerson Safety Products Deployed: 1,000 LF of the Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ including 10′ and 5′ safety rail panels, adjustable safety rails with toeboards, weighted bases, mobile carts, heavy steel pallets, and dollies are all being used to support safe, efficient movement across the jobsite.

Looking for Bridge Construction Safety Rails?

If you are planning a bridge or large infrastructure project and need safety rails that can keep up with the scale of the job, the Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ is built to perform.