The U.S. Army is planning to partially reopen the port of Baltimore’s shipping channel only weeks after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed.
The Army Corps of Engineers, which has been working to clear the wreckage of the bridge, is tentatively expecting to open a limited channel to the port by the end of April, the Army said in a press release on Thursday. State, local, and federal resources have been deployed to the area since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26 after a cargo ship struck one of its piers.
The limited-access channel that the Army plans to open later this month will be 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, according to the release. One-way traffic will be allowed through the channel for container service and vessels carrying automobiles and farm equipment.
By the end of May, the Corps of Engineers expects to completely reopen the 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel and restore port access to full capacity. The port of Baltimore is one of the most active ports in the U.S. based on total tonnage, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“Thanks to the exhaustive work of the Unified Command during the last two weeks, including underwater surveys and detailed structural analysis of the wreckage, we’ve developed a better understanding of the immense and complex work that lies ahead,” said Corps of Engineers commanding general Scott A. Spellmon.
“These are ambitious timelines that may still be impacted by significant adverse weather conditions or changes in the complexity of the wreckage,” Spellmon added.
“We are working quickly and safely to clear the channel and restore full service at this port that is so vital to the nation. At the same time, we continue to keep faith with the families of the missing and are working with our partners to help locate and recover their loved ones.”
At least six people are presumed dead as a result of the accident, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The victims were construction workers carrying out repairs on the bridge. Maryland will not be able to begin rebuilding the bridge itself until the wreckage is clear, Governor Wes Moore (D.) said Thursday. The state temporarily opened two shallow commercial channels earlier this week and is assisting businesses affected by the incident.
The Biden administration is pushing to have the federal government pay for the entirety of the bridge repairs, which are expected to cost well over $1 billion.