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SPARROWS POINT, Md. 鈥� Almost a year after the deadly collapse of Baltimore鈥檚聽Francis Scott Key Bridge, Maryland officials on Tuesday unveiled their designs for its replacement, which will be taller and better protected against ship strikes.

Construction of the state鈥檚 first cable-stayed bridge could finish in 2028 and cost upwards of $1.7 billion.

With its graceful outline and delicate design, the new bridge will modernize Baltimore鈥檚 skyline, becoming a symbol of resilience, progress and economic growth, officials said. The design features two towers with cables radiating down to the deck.

鈥淭his is a great day for the state of Maryland,鈥� Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference late Tuesday morning. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not lost on me that today鈥檚 triumph was born out of tragedy.鈥�

The original Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile-long steel span at the mouth of Baltimore鈥檚 harbor, opened to traffic in 1977 following five years of construction. It connected various port-oriented industrial communities around Baltimore and allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown.

The bridge was destroyed when a massive container ship lost power and slammed into one of its supporting columns. The March 26 collapse聽killed six construction workers聽who were filling potholes when the structure crumbled beneath them. Baltimore鈥檚 port was closed for months after the collapse, and聽increased traffic congestion聽remains a problem for drivers across the region.

Officials quickly promised to rebuild the bridge 鈥� a聽longstanding Baltimore landmark聽and vital piece of transportation infrastructure.

Demolition of the remaining pieces will take place this spring, with construction of its replacement to follow, officials said Tuesday.

They held Tuesday鈥檚 news conference at聽Tradepoint Atlantic, a Port of Baltimore shipping hub that played a major role in cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse. The facility is revitalizing the site of a former Bethlehem Steel plant just northeast of Baltimore as maritime shipping continues to fuel the regional economy.

鈥淢aryland is a bridge between America and the rest of the world,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淲e get cars from Michigan out to market. We bring sugars and spices to Louisiana. We haul farm equipment from the East Coast deep into the heartland. Commerce and trade are the bedrock of our state, and we will continue to make investments that honor our tradition.鈥�

In August, the state聽awarded a $73 million contract聽for the first phase of the reconstruction project to Kiewit Infrastructure, a major construction and engineering firm.

Officials said the project would advance in two phases, with the first focusing on the design work and other necessary steps before construction begins. Moore promised to 鈥渆mploy many Marylanders鈥� throughout the process.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the design will include the latest in pier protection technology, which has become increasingly important as ships keep getting bigger and carrying more cargo. The bridge will also be taller to provide more clearance. He said the plans were developed with the project鈥檚 cost and construction timeline in mind.

鈥淲hile this is a beautiful bridge, it will also be a working bridge for a working city,鈥� Wiedefeld said.

The federal government has agreed to cover the project鈥檚 full price tag. Congress recently passed a spending bill that includes a funding provision for the project.

Officials have said they expect that federal taxpayers will eventually be made whole through insurance payouts and damages, but that could take a while. A聽sprawling civil case聽will ultimately determine the assignments of liability in what could become one of the most expensive maritime disasters in U.S. history.

The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released its final report on the collapse, though officials said a loose cable in the ship鈥檚 electrical switchboard likely contributed to its power issues. Federal agents boarded the cargo ship Dali amid a聽criminal investigation聽last year.