Leaders commemorate Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, honoring six victims
What we know:
BALTIMORE – Leaders and residents in the Baltimore region and across Maryland are marking one year since the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott will commemorate the day on Wednesday with a ceremony near where the bridge once stood.
READ MORE: NTSB says Key Bridge collapse could have been prevented with ‘vulnerability and risk assessments’
The March 26, 2024, disaster occurred when the massive container ship Dali lost power and collided with a supporting column of the bridge. Six construction workers, who were repairing potholes at the time, died when the structure crumbled. The collapse brought months-long closures at Baltimore’s port and caused severe traffic congestion, issues that persist across the region today.
According to federal investigators, the Maryland Transportation Authority failed to conduct a recommended vulnerability assessment, which could have identified the bridge’s significant risk of collapse due to ship strikes.
FULL COVERAGE of the Baltimore Bridge Collapse
Plans for a $1.7 billion replacement bridge by 2028 move forward
What’s next:
Efforts to rebuild the bridge are underway. Officials have announced that the replacement structure will be taller and more resilient to ship impacts. The new design, a cable-stayed bridge—the first of its kind in the state—is estimated to cost more than $1.7 billion and could be completed by 2028.
READ MORE: Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Owner of Dali cargo ship to pay US $100M in settlement
The original Francis Scott Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile steel span connecting Baltimore’s industrial communities and providing a bypass for downtown traffic, opened in 1977 after five years of construction.
READ MORE: New Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge design unveiled
The Source: FOX 5 DC & The Associated Press
