US Allocates $60 Million to Rebuild Bridge in Baltimore
In an effort to expedite the recovery process, the US Department of Transportation has announced a $60 million emergency fund to serve as an “upfront payment for initial costs” as the state of Maryland embarks on the urgent clearance, design, and reconstruction of a collapsed bridge. This additional funding will be made available as the project progresses.
This swift allocation of emergency funds comes just hours after the Governor of Maryland requested assistance. According to the Governor, the top priority is to locate missing construction workers and clear the debris to restore maritime transportation. The recovery efforts will also include support for affected workers and families, followed by the bridge reconstruction.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “The federal emergency fund we are releasing today will help the state of Maryland get started on the urgent work and provide additional resources as the recovery and reconstruction efforts progress.”
The incident occurred when the Singapore-flagged vessel, Dali, measuring 300 meters in length and carrying around 4,700 containers, collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26 after losing propulsion. The impact caused the complete collapse of the bridge, resulting in six fatalities and the closure of one of the busiest ports on the East Coast of the United States. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident.
While the bodies of four of the six victims are still missing, rescue operations have been temporarily halted to facilitate the removal of a massive steel structure from the river. This will allow engineers to refloat and tow the stranded vessel out of the waterway, as well as resume port operations.
The US military has deployed specialized personnel and the largest crane available to move the collapsed bridge sections.
Experts estimate that the cost of rebuilding the bridge will reach $600 million.
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