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Port of Baltimore updates island restoration and recovery after disruptions; Poplar Island and Mid Bay projects advance
Summary
Maryland Port Administration officials reported recovery progress after the Key Bridge collapse, highlighted double-stack rail operations and outlined ongoing ecosystem restoration projects on Poplar Island and the Mid Bay islands, with community outreach planned for affected counties.
Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, updated the Eastern Shore delegation on Feb. 14 about the port's recovery and ecological restoration projects, saying the Port of Baltimore remains "an integral role in maintaining our nation's supply chain" despite disruptions from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and national supply-chain shifts.
Daniels said double-stack container rail operations began in October 2024 at Seagirt Marine Terminal on a temporary route with CSX, increasing capacity until the Howard Street tunnel project completes (anticipated 2026). "It will increase the port's business by a 60,000 containers annually and generating nearly 14,000 jobs," Daniels said.
Ecosystem restoration and beneficial use of dredged material Holly Miller, director of navigation, innovation and stewardship for the Maryland Port Administration, described the Port's long-running aquatic ecosystem restoration work on the Eastern Shore. Miller said Poplar Island (Talbot County) is the main recipient of dredged material from Maryland Bay channels and that planning for upland habitat is underway. "To date, over 400 acres of wetlands have been restored on Poplar Island," Miller said; the project will continue to receive dredge material for decades.
Miller also detailed the Mid Bay Islands project (Dorchester County), which will use dredged material on Barren and James Islands to recreate wetlands and remote island habitat. Phase 1 at Barren Island—installation of protective stone sills and breakwaters—was completed last October; phase 2 began last month and will continue with additional sill work, Rhode Island installation and containment structures in preparation for maintenance dredging of the Honga River, expected in 2026.
Public outreach and visitation MPA said Poplar Island hosts tours March–October and reported 2,479 visitors in 2024 with outreach to nearly 4,935 individuals through public events and educational programs. The Mid Bay project team said it will maintain stakeholder engagement through annual community meetings, biannual newsletters and one-on-one outreach.
Key Bridge and funding notes Daniels thanked the state's federal delegation for helping secure federal authorization for Key Bridge reconstruction. MDOT representatives told the delegation the Key Bridge rebuild has federal support and cited legislation and federal funding pathways; Daniels said pre-construction activities already had begun on an accelerated timeline.
Ending MPA officials said they will continue coordination with local stakeholders in Talbot and Dorchester counties as island restoration and dredging plans advance and will provide additional briefings and tour information to the delegation and the public.
