Plans are in motion to clean up the thousands of tons of steel garbage from the collapsed bridge in Baltimore’s harbor.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has urged Republicans to cooperate with Democrats in approving the federal funding necessary for fixing the bridge and revitalizing the port economy.
Container Ship Crash Leads To Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday when a container ship almost as large as the Eiffel Tower lost power and crashed into a support pylon.
A big part of the bridge fell into the Patapsco River, stopping ships from getting through the Port of Baltimore.
Eight Individuals Affected, Two Rescued, Six Missing And Presumed Dead
Officials report eight individuals were on the bridge during the collapse. Two were rescued, with one hospitalized but later released. Sadly, the remaining six, likely part of a road construction crew, are presumed deceased following the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo ship collision.
The US Coast Guard has ended the rescue operation for the six workers, who were on the bridge when it collapsed. “We do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Commander Shannon Gilreath said.
Heartbreaking Conclusion To A Challenging Day
Later on Tuesday, it was revealed that two of the missing workers were from Guatemala, confirmed by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told reporters Tuesday evening it’s a “really heartbreaking conclusion to a challenging day.”
Biden Administration Takes Action
The Biden administration sprang into action on Thursday, allocating $60 million for the urgent task of cleaning up the debris from the collapsed bridge and getting the port up and running again.
This port, known as the largest in the U.S. for “roll-on, roll-off” vehicle imports and exports of farm and construction equipment, has been at a standstill since Tuesday’s bridge collapse, leaving approximately 15,000 workers uncertain about their livelihoods.
Allocated Sum For Bridge Reconstruction Not Enough
According to reports from Roll Call, federal officials have informed Maryland lawmakers that the final bill for rebuilding the bridge could reach a staggering $2 billion. It’s a daunting figure, highlighting the magnitude of the challenge ahead.
Democratic President Joe Biden promises that the federal government will foot the bill, but it all hinges on getting the green light from both the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democratic-led Senate.
Calls To Put Aside Differences For The Sake Of Nation’s Economy
Our divided Congress is no stranger to heated debates over funding, often causing friction even within the Republican ranks. Moore, a Democrat, urged Republicans to put aside differences and support the funding not only for Baltimore but also for the sake of the entire national economy.
“The reason that we need people to move in a bipartisan basis … is not because we need you to do Maryland a favor….We need to make sure that we’re actually moving quickly to get the American economy going again because the Port of Baltimore is instrumental in our larger economic growth,” Moore told CNN.
Bridge Closure And Port Disruption: Impact On Workers And Consumers
The closure of a road used by 30,000 vehicles daily and the port disturbance won’t just impact dockworkers and commuters; it’ll also hit American shoppers with shipping delays.
Scott Cowan, head of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, is hustling to assist its 2,400 members facing job uncertainties. “If there’s no ships, there’s no work,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can.”
Buttigieg Optimistic About Bipartisan Support
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he’s hopeful Congress will agree to the money needed for fixing things up. He pointed out that even though Congress doesn’t always see eye to eye, they did manage to pass Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan last year.
“If there’s anything left in this country that is more bipartisan than infrastructure, it should be emergency response. This is both, and I hope that Congress will be willing if and when we turn to them,” Buttigieg told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Biden’s Bridge Visit Imminent As Cleanup Commences
Biden was anticipated to tour the site of the collapsed bridge sometime this week. A massive crane kicked off the cleanup process by dismantling sections of the fallen bridge for removal on Saturday, marking the initial phase of what officials anticipate will be a complex and protracted cleanup operation.
According to a spokesperson for the governor’s office, a hefty 180-metric-ton (200-ton) portion of the bridge has already been extracted, with officials now strategizing on the best approach for dislodging the ship from the wreckage.
Officials Plan New Route For Essential Ships
On Sunday evening, officials announced plans to create an alternate route for “commercially essential vessels,” although few additional details were released and the timing of the alternate route’s opening wasn’t made clear.
In a statement, coordinator Capt. David O’Connell said that the alternate route would “support the flow of marine traffic into Baltimore.”
Coast Guard Deploys Buoys As Search For Workers Continues
Responders shared a video of Coast Guard officials placing buoys in the water near the collision site. Due to the wreckage and bad weather, divers haven’t been able to keep searching for the missing construction workers recently, according to Moore.
Though neither Moore nor other officials have given an estimate of when the port will reopen or the bridge will be rebuilt.
Plans Already In Motion
However, Maryland’s Department of Transportation is already planning to rebuild the span and considering innovative designs. They’ll use engineering and building methods so that we can quickly deliver this project, Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said.
Adam Ortiz, the EPA’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, confirmed that no harmful substances from the ship have been detected in the water, ensuring there’s no risk to human health.
Restrictions Also Being Set In Place
Colonel Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police, announced that they’ve requested the Federal Aviation Administration to create a restricted flight zone around the bridge, stretching 3 nautical miles in all directions and up to 1,500 feet in altitude from the center span.
Butler cautioned against drone usage in the area, emphasizing that law enforcement is ready to respond to any airspace violations.
