Port of Baltimore Reopens After 11-Week Closure Due to Bridge Collapse

Restoring The Channel

The US Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the passageway, where the Key Bridge had buckled, is now "safe for transit." The channel, measuring 700ft (213m) wide and 50ft (15m) deep, has been restored to its original operational dimensions.

The incident occurred on March 26, when the cargo ship Dali veered into the bridge, severing the crucial shipping artery and tragically killing six construction workers. In the aftermath, crews had to remove 50,000 tonnes of wreckage. Approximately 2,000 salvage responders, including hundreds of international specialists, worked tirelessly to clear the steel and concrete debris, aided by a fleet of tugboats and over a dozen floating cranes.

Moving Forward

Baltimore District Commander Col Estee Pinchasin stated: "Although the overarching goal to restore full operational capacity to the Federal Channel was successful, each day we thought of those who lost their lives, their families, and the workers impacted by this tragic event."

The crash had left the vessel trapped under the wreckage in the Patapsco River. The Dali was moved by tugboats last month, marking one of the final steps needed to clear the shipping routes ahead of Monday's reopening.

The FBI and US Coast Guard are investigating the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board reported last month that the Dali experienced multiple power failures before it collided with the bridge.

Rebuilding the span is projected to take more than four years and cost up to $1.9 billion (£1.5 billion), according to Maryland state authorities.