Port Of Baltimore Shipping Channel Reopens, Eleven Weeks After Bridge Collapse

The Port of Baltimore shipping channel has fully reopened, eleven weeks after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed following a collision with a cargo ship. The collapse occurred on March 26 when the Dali ship veered into the span, cutting off the shipping artery and killing six construction workers.

The channel, measuring 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep, has been restored to its original operational dimensions. The collapse occurred on March 26 when the Dali ship veered into the span, cutting off the shipping artery and killing six construction workers. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced that the passageway, where the Key Bridge had buckled, is now “safe for transit.”

To clear the wreckage, crews removed 50,000 tonnes of debris. Over 2,000 salvage responders, including hundreds of specialists from around the world, utilised a fleet of tugboats and more than a dozen floating cranes to manage the massive cleanup effort that involved removing the heap of steel and concrete.

Baltimore District Commander Col Estee Pinchasin stated, “Although the overarching goal to restore full operational capacity to the Federal Channel was successful, each day we thought of those who lost their lives, their families, and the workers impacted by this tragic event.”

The vessel was trapped under the wreckage in the Patapsco River following the crash. Last month, tugboats successfully moved the Dali, which was one of the final steps needed to clear the shipping routes before Monday’s reopening.

The incident is still being investigated by the
FBI and US Coast Guard. The National Transportation Safety Board reported last month that the Dali had lost power several times before ramming into the bridge.

Rebuilding the span is projected to take over four years and cost up to $1.9 billion, according to state authorities in Maryland.

Melissa Enoch

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