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USA: Baltimore Port Main Channel Opens Almost 3 Months After Bridge Collapse; 50,000 Tonnes Of Debris Removed From River

11 weeks after the bridge collapse, the critical channel of the Baltimore Port has been restored to its normal depth and width.

by Tashika Tyagi
USA: Baltimore Port Main Channel Opens Almost 3 Months After Bridge Collapse; 50,000 Tonnes Of Debris Removed From River

The critical shipping channel of the Baltimore Port that was clogged after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March has finally reopened. As per the US Army Corps of Engineers, the channel is now safe for shipment. Around 2,000 workers cleared out 50,000 tonnes of debris from the river in the last three months for the key channel to reopen.

Baltimore Port’s Critical Channel Reopens After Bridge Collapse

Baltimore Port
Image Courtesy: Wikimedia

On March 26, the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a cargo ship crashed into it. This caused massive damage around the port and even claimed six lives. Operations on this port have since halted due to debris blockage where the bridge collapsed. Thankfully now, after almost three months, the Baltimore Port shipping channel has fully reopened.

Known as the Fort McHenry Federal Channel in the Patapsco River, it was the main transit channel of the Baltimore Port. As per a report in the Deccan Herald, it took around 2,000 workers to clear out 50,000 tonnes of debris that was left behind after the bridge collapsed. This wreckage needed to be cleared before the channel could start operations again.

The US Army Corps and US Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving worked together to clear this debris for almost two months to make this happen. Now, the 700 ft wide and 50 ft deep channel has been restored to its original operational dimensions.

It is to be noted that temporary channels were opened to move traffic around the port. However, none of them were as deep or wide as the main channel.

Also Read: After Canada, USA’s San Francisco Gets Its First Free Food Market To Tackle Food Insecurity In The Area

What Caused The Port Channel To Shut Down?

Baltimore Port
Image Courtesy: Flickr

The Dali, a cargo ship, crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Port on March 26. It has been reported that the Dali lost power and crashed into the bridge which caused it to collapse. This accident ended up killing six people and blocking the critical channel of the port. The crash left Dali trapped under the wreckage in the river and caused tonnes of debris that took 11 weeks to clear out. The FBI and US Coast Guard are investigating the incident to find out more about what caused it.

The reopening of the channel is indeed good news! Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments section.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia

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