An entirely new roadway deck was installed in 1986-87.
The new road deck was a bonded post-tensioned concrete deck 90 feet (27 m) in width.
The roadway width remained the same, but the extra deck width allowed the sidewalks to be widened to 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m).
The 1955 railing was removed, and a precast concrete parapet 2 feet 8 inches (0.81 m) high with 6-foot (1.8 m) recessed panels between the balusters was installed.
 The new parapet resembles the 1923 railing.
Atop the new parapet is a 5-foot (1.5 m) high steel railing designed to act as a suicide prevention measure.
The new steel railing has 0.75-inch (1.9 cm) wide bars set 4 inches (10 cm) apart.
Type 16 Washington Upright Lampposts, each 14 feet (4.3 m) high, were installed above the apex of each arch and atop each pier.

On March 1, 1996, the Key Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
An entirely new roadway deck was installed in 1986-87. The new road deck was a bonded post-tensioned concrete deck 90 feet (27 m) in width. The roadway width remained the same, but the extra deck width allowed the sidewalks to be widened to 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m). The 1955 railing was removed, and a precast concrete parapet 2 feet 8 inches (0.81 m) high with 6-foot (1.8 m) recessed panels between the balusters was installed.  The new parapet resembles the 1923 railing. Atop the new parapet is a 5-foot (1.5 m) high steel railing designed to act as a suicide prevention measure. The new steel railing has 0.75-inch (1.9 cm) wide bars set 4 inches (10 cm) apart. Type 16 Washington Upright Lampposts, each 14 feet (4.3 m) high, were installed above the apex of each arch and atop each pier.
On March 1, 1996, the Key Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Key Bridge (Washington, D.C.)