After Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Biden Approves $60 Million in Aid as Governor Warns of ‘Extensive Recovery Process’ Ahead
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore expressed concerns on Thursday about the extensive process ahead to recover from the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Biden administration has approved $60 million in immediate federal aid to assist with the aftermath of the tragic incident.
Large barges carrying cranes are en route to the site to begin the complex task of removing the debris of twisted metal and concrete. This is the initial step towards reopening a critical shipping route that has been obstructed by the wreckage of the bridge.
Governor Moore assured that experts from around the world are collaborating on plans to clear the debris, relocate the cargo ship that collided with the bridge, retrieve the bodies of the four missing workers presumed dead, and investigate the cause of the collapse.
“Government and industry are working together to assess the area, including the wreck, and remove the ship,” stated Moore, emphasizing the urgency of quick assistance to set the groundwork for a swift recovery. President Joe Biden has committed to covering the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge.
“This is not a swift operation. It will take a substantial amount of time and effort,” Moore emphasized. “We are facing a challenging road ahead.”
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that barges were on their way to the location where the collapsed bridge spanned the Patapsco River, but the arrival time was unclear.
The wreckage at the collapse site, which occurred when the cargo ship collided with a bridge pillar early Tuesday, is extensive. Divers retrieved the bodies of two individuals in a pickup truck near the middle span of the bridge on Wednesday, but the clearance of debris is necessary before reaching the bodies of the remaining four missing workers.
State police noted that the vehicles seemed to be surrounded by a “superstructure” of concrete and other materials.
The National Transportation Safety Board officials boarded the ship, named Dali, to gather data from its electronics and documents, and to interview the captain and crew. Initial investigations suggest that the collision was accidental, according to federal and state authorities.
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