Recovery efforts at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse reached a critical stage as crews began removing shipping containers from the vessel Dali. The containers are blocking access to a key portion of the roadway that is currently perched on the ship. The goal is to remove the containers to safely access and remove pieces of the bridge that lie across the ship’s bow, ultimately allowing for the movement of the ship. The Unified Command overseeing the response includes various first responders, recovery crews, and agencies planning to redevelop the bridge and reopen the waterway.
Three of the six roadway workers who were on the bridge during the collapse have been recovered, while the other three are presumed dead. Once the ship is moved, the authorities will be able to reopen the port to some traffic. The port, a key destination for imported cars in the United States, has been essentially shut down since the collision, with temporary traffic being redirected through alternate channels.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to open a one-way shipping lane in the port by the end of April and restore full port traffic by the end of May. The collapse of the bridge has blocked the Fort McHenry Channel and severely limited traffic in and out of the port. Rebuilding the bridge and restoring traffic to the port are top priorities for officials working to resolve the aftermath of the disaster.
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