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Baltimore Port key channel resumes following bridge collapse

Federal agencies stated on Monday they have actually brought back complete access for commercial maritime transit through the Port of Baltimore after the elimination of 50,000 tons of debris from the March 26 collapse of the Key Bridge.

The cargo ship Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March in Baltimore, killing six people and incapacitating a significant transportation artery for the U.S. Northeast. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated a study on Monday accredited the riverbed as safe for transit and stated the Fort McHenry Federal Channel had been brought back to its original functional dimensions of 700 feet broad and 50 feet deep.

The totally functional channel will permit two-way traffic and the ending of the additional safety requirements that were needed due to the fact that of short-lived lowered channel width.

The U.S. Army Corps and U.S. Navy Manager of Salvage and Diving worked to clear Secret Bridge wreckage for more than two months before the final piece was eliminated last week. The Dali was safely moved on May 20.

More than 1,500 individual responders along with 500 specialists from all over the world operated a fleet of boats throughout the operation which included 56 federal, state, and local firms.

Surveying and removal of steel at and below the 50-foot mud-line will continue to ensure future dredging operations are not impacted and wreckage will continue to be transported to Sparrows Point for follow-on processing.

In April, the FBI opened a criminal probe into the collapse. The National Transport Safety Board said last month the Dali lost electrical power numerous times before it crashed into the bridge including experiencing a blackout throughout in-port maintenance and soon before the crash.

Maryland estimates it will cost $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion to reconstruct the bridge and anticipates completion by fall 2028.

(source: Reuters)