Baltimore bridge collapse live updates: Massive crane makes its way to crash site to aid cleanup efforts

A crane described by officials as the largest on the Eastern Seaboard is expected to arrive in Baltimore on Friday, as efforts get underway to clean up the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed earlier this week after it was struck by a cargo ship. At a news conference Thursday evening, officials emphasized that reopening the Port of Baltimore, where vessel traffic is suspended indefinitely, was their top priority and that teams needed to finish assessments to determine where to cut the bridge into pieces before they could start extracting it.

A crane described by officials as the largest on the Eastern Seaboard is expected to arrive in Baltimore on Friday, as efforts get underway to clean up the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed earlier this week after it was struck by a cargo ship. At a news conference Thursday evening, officials emphasized that reopening the Port of Baltimore, where vessel traffic is suspended indefinitely, was their top priority and that teams needed to finish assessments to determine where to cut the bridge into pieces before they could start extracting it.


he U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it approved $60 million in emergency funding to support Maryland’s recovery and cleanup efforts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said more federal funds would follow, but longer-term funding from Congress could take months. By some estimates, Maryland could end up needing more than a $1 billion to erect a new bridge, The Washington Post reported.

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference Thursday that the steps necessary to reopen the Port of Baltimore involve clearing debris from the channel, then removing the vessel and eventually removing the rest of the bridge debris from the waterway. “We have a very long road ahead of us,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), noting that the ship is almost as long as the Eiffel Tower.

Four of the eight construction workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse are missing and presumed dead. The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, were recovered Wednesday, and Miguel Luna and Maynor Suazo Sandoval are among four still missing. Two workers were rescued Tuesday.

Three Maryland Transportation Authority police officers were honored at the Orioles Opening Day game in Baltimore for their work halting traffic on the bridge after the Dali container ship issued an urgent mayday call. Moore said their “quick thinking saved lives.”

Traffic in the area is being affected by the severing of a major part of Baltimore’s beltway. Officials said Thursday that since the bridge collapse, about 15,000 more vehicles than usual have been passing through the Fort McHenry Tunnel, and about 7,000 additional vehicles are using the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.

[link to www.msn.com (secure)]

Last Edited by Emeraldlight on 03/29/2024 07:05 AM