Baltimore bridge collapse: Cranes removing wreckage of Key Bridge; 4 unaccounted for

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

TIMELINE OF THIS WORK. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE TOP PRIORITY IS REOPENING THE PORT OF BALTIMORE. BUT THAT CANNOT HAPPEN UNTIL WE GET THIS BRIDGE OUT OF THE WATER. THEY’RE GOING TO DO THAT WITH THAT CRANE YOU SEE OVER MY SHOULDER HERE. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL THAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THIS DONE. AND THEN IF YOU LOOK OUT TO THE WATER, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A VIEW OF THE VESSEL IN THE BRIDGE SURROUNDING IT. THE UNIFIED COMMAND TODAY FINISHING ASSESSING WHAT ALL IS IN THE WATER. THE UNIFIED COMMAND ADDRESSING THE KEY BRIDGE CLEANUP FRIDAY. WE NEED TO DO MORE WORK CLEARING THE CHANNEL TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS A REMARKABLY COMPLEX OPERATION AS DIVERS WAIT FOR SAFER WATER CONDITIONS FOR THEIR RECOVERY MISSION. THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED. TO CLEARING THE PATAPSCO RIVER OF THE KEY BRIDGE IN ORDER TO REOPEN THE PORT OF BALTIMORE, ONE OF THE LARGEST CRANES ON THE EAST COAST IS ALREADY HERE, ABLE TO LIFT A THOUSAND TONS. MEANWHILE, SOME CREWS ARE OUT ON THE WATER ASSESSING THE WRECKAGE WITH A SALVAGE OPERATION IN THIS COMPLEX. AND FRANKLY, WITH THE SALVAGE OPERATION, THIS UNPRECEDENTED, YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR EVERY SINGLE MOMENT AND EVERY TIME YOU TAKE ACTION TO MOVE A PIECE OF WRECKAGE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT REQUIRES YOU TO REASSESS THE SITUATION. THE U.S. NAVY IS SUPPLYING FOUR HEAVY LIFT CRANES. TWO HAVE ARRIVED. ONE MORE WILL GET HERE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE FOURTH COMES MONDAY IN THE COMING WEEKS, A FEW MORE CRANES, TEN TUGS, NINE BARGES, EIGHT SALVAGE VESSELS AND FIVE COAST GUARD BOATS WILL GO INTO THE WATER RIGHT NOW, TEAMS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW THEY’LL CUT THE FALLEN BRIDGE INTO PIECES TO THEN BE LIFTED OUT WITH CRANES. ONCE THE CHANNEL IS CLEAR OF BRIDGE. DEBRIS, THE CARGO SHIP WILL BE NEXT BEFORE REMOVING THE REST OF THE DEBRIS FROM THE WATER. WHEN YOU LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDERS AT THE BRIDGE AND WHAT’S LEFT OF IT, YOU’LL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CITY, THIS STATE, AND INDEED OUR NATION CRIES AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER REPLACE WHAT WAS THERE. AND WE MOURN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LOST THERE. AND THAT WILL FOREVER BE A REMINDER TO ALL OF US. STILL, NO OFFICIAL TIMELINE AS TO WHEN WE MAY SEE THE PORT REOPEN, BUT WE’RE CONTINUES. CREWS ARE OUT THERE NAVIGATING EVERYTHING FROM ELECTRIC WIRES AND TO HIGH WINDS. WE WON’T HAVE AN IDEA AS TO WHEN DEBRIS CLEANUP WILL START UNTIL THE OFFICIAL ASSESSMENT IS FINISHED. OF COURSE, WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED, BUT FOR NOW, LI

Baltimore bridge collapse: Cranes removing wreckage of Key Bridge; 4 unaccounted for

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

Cranes continue to remove the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge Saturday as Gov. Wes Moore and several Maryland officials provided updated a press conference.Raw Video: Gov. Moore, officials provide an update on the Key Bridge collapse Saturday afternoon.Gov. Moore says the massive crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons, is one of at least two used to clear the channel of the twisted metal and concrete remains of the fallen bridge and the cargo ship that collided with it this week."The best minds in the world" are working on the plans for removal, Moore said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Baltimore District told the governor that it and the Navy were mobilizing major resources from around the country at record speed to clear the channel.The U.S. Navy will supply four heavy lift cranes, while 10 tugs, nine barges, eight salvage vessels and five Coast Guard boats will also join the effort.He warned of a long road to recovery but said he was grateful to the Biden administration for approving $60 million in immediate aid. President Joe Biden has said the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge. THE LATEST RIGHT NOW Cranes arrived overnight in Baltimore, and began the long process of removing the debris of the fallen bridge and cargo shipFour missing workers are still unaccounted for. Coast Guard officials say all four are presumed dead following Tuesday’s collapse. The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water.The focus now turns to investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and as safely as possible.President Joe Biden approved $60 million in funding for recovery efforts Preliminary investigation shows this was not intentional.Baltimore Beltway/I-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk (traffic map here).The iconic Baltimore bridge collapsed around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the container ship Dali slammed into a pillar, causing a long span of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River.VIDEO: Officials announce approved federal funding for Key BridgeAt least eight people went into the water. Two were rescued, but the other six, part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, were missing and presumed dead.The search for the missing changed from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission late Tuesday night, 18 hours after the workers disappeared."Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts we've put into it, the water temperature, we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals alive, and so this evening around 7:30, we are going to suspend active search and rescue efforts," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said Tuesday. RELATED: Video shows moment when Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsesThe search for the missing turned into a salvage operation Wednesday, as officials said the bridge's superstructure is blocking diver access to the remaining victims."We have exhausted all search efforts and the areas around this wreckage, and based on the sonar scans, we firmly believe the (remaining) vehicles are encased in the superstructure and concrete that we tragically saw come down," Maryland State Police Col. Ronald Butler Jr.RELATED: What we know about the victims of the Key Bridge collapseJesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the construction crew who died, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks to warm up when the bridge collapsed.WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?Gov. Wes Moore submitted an emergency $60 million request for funding from the federal government. He announced Thursday evening that request was approved."We want to be clear — $60 million is just a down payment, not the final payment," U.S. Department of Transportation official Shailen Bhatt said.First, crews will clear debris from the channel, then remove the cargo ship, before removing the rest of the bridge debris from the water. Cranes are on the way to do that. One will arrive Friday, another on Saturday.Efforts so far have been largely focused on the search for the missing workers. But the focus will soon shift to two main objectives: investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and safely as possible.VIDEO: NTSB provides timeline of events from DaliNational Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators boarded the vessel and obtained a general timeline of events via the ship's voyage recorder data.At 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, numerous alarms went off on the bridge, and the VDR stopped. Two minutes later, it started again. That's when the pilots put out the first call for tugboats to assist. At 1:27 a.m., the pilot of the ship ordered the port anchor to drop and radioed that the ship lost power and was approaching the bridge. That's when the U.S. Coast Guard instructed the MDTA to shut down the bridge, and all lanes were closed.The VRD recorded the collision about two minutes later at 1:29 a.m.Officials also determined the ship has 56 containers containing 764 tons of hazardous materials that federal agencies are working to address."Some of the hazmat containers were breached. We have seen sheen on the waterway," Homendy said.But according to Moore, there is no indication of any serious threat at this time.Officials said a preliminary report should be released by the NTSB in 2-4 weeks, with a final report not expected for 12-24 months.SHIP UNDERWENT ENGINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE CRASHThe ship that crashed into a bridge in Baltimore was undergoing "routine engine maintenance" in the port beforehand, the Coast Guard said.U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference on Wednesday that authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo routine engine maintenance before it lost power. But he said authorities were not informed of any problems.Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said the cargo ship was carrying hazardous materials.NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy says there are 56 containers aboard containing hazardous materials, including corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries. She said some containers were breached and a sheen there was a sheen in the water that will be dealt with by authorities. She said the voyage data recorder has been recovered.Homendy said the investigation could take 12 to 24 months but that the NTSB would not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time. She said a preliminary report should be released in two to four weeks.“It’s a massive undertaking for an investigation,” Homendy said. “It’s a very tragic event.”PORT OF BALTIMORE OPERATIONSThe Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice. The port is not shut down and they are still processing trucks inside of the terminals.Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will close until further notice. All truck traffic must enter through the Seagirt main gate at 2600 Broening Highway.The Seagirt main gate will not be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled. It will close at the normal time of 4:30 p.m.The Seagirt Marine Terminal will be closed on Good Friday.NO INDICATIONS OF TERRORISM Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.The FBI released the following statement, saying: "There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state and federal levels."Video below captures collapse of Key BridgeThe ship underwent 27 inspections since the Dali came into service in 2016. There were no issues until June, when Chilean authorities found deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary machinery.DHS said the Dali lost propulsion as it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection particularly interesting.SkyTeam 11 video below shows bridge collapse & point of impactA STATE OF EMERGENCYThe governor's office released a statement, saying: "My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge."I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration."We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse starting at 9 a.m. and will remain in place for 30 days, which enables the mobilization of emergency services and resources.Video below: Lester Holt — 'Sometimes you see life change on a dime'"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "This is a tragedy you can never imagine. Never did you think you would see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of a movie ... Our focus should be the preservation of life.""We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We have a long road ahead, not just in the search and rescue but in the fallout after this."ALTERNATE ROUTESInterstate 695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.Interstate 95/Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum height: 14 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 11 feet)Interstate 895/Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum height: 13 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 8 feet)Vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane of more than 10 pounds) are prohibited in tunnels and should use the western section of I-695 around tunnels.See official truck routes through Baltimore City here.BIDEN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TO REBUILDPresident Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and state.Video: President speaks about bridge collapse"We're with you. We're going to stay with you for as long as it takes. Like the governor said, you're Maryland tough, you're Baltimore strong, and we're going to get through this together, and I promise we're not leaving," Biden said.The president called on Congress to put into motion the federal government paying for the construction of a replacement bridge."It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost to reconstruct the bridge," Biden said.Buttigieg said the president's plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He said the administration is prepared to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.Video below: NTSB provides update on Key Bridge collapseThe Federal Highway Administration released a statement, saying: "The I-695 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and we stand ready to offer technical assistance — including emergency relief funding — to help manage traffic and rebuild the bridge as quickly and safely as possible."In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and local officials in the region, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the city of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others."Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site today to offer federal support and assistance."WHAT'S NEXT?The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.“Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site Tuesday, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet deep.“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he said at a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”Highway signs as far south as Virginia are warning drivers of delays associated with the closure of the bridge.“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore’s port “critical components’’ of the nation’s infrastructure.Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city’s tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.WHERE IS THE BRIDGE?The Key Bridge opened in 1977, completing the Baltimore Beltway's circumference around the city. The bridge is southeast of the city proper and spans from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.According to a Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.Federal Highway Administration records show the bridge was last inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in fair condition overall at a rating of six (satisfactory) out of nine on three parameters. These inspections are supposed to occur every 24 months.The Key Bridge was indeed last inspected in May 2023 and "found to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair," per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection found the bridge was in fair condition as well.HOW TO DONATEThe Baltimore Civic Fund is offering a way for people to contribute to the families of the victims."In light of this tragic loss of life, we are opening a donation account to support these victims' families and the families of the survivors. The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy," the website states.Click here to learn more.FULL COVERAGE FROM WBAL

Cranes continue to remove the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge Saturday as Gov. Wes Moore and several Maryland officials provided updated a press conference.

Raw Video: Gov. Moore, officials provide an update on the Key Bridge collapse Saturday afternoon.

Gov. Moore says the massive crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons, is one of at least two used to clear the channel of the twisted metal and concrete remains of the fallen bridge and the cargo ship that collided with it this week.

"The best minds in the world" are working on the plans for removal, Moore said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Baltimore District told the governor that it and the Navy were mobilizing major resources from around the country at record speed to clear the channel.

The U.S. Navy will supply four heavy lift cranes, while 10 tugs, nine barges, eight salvage vessels and five Coast Guard boats will also join the effort.

He warned of a long road to recovery but said he was grateful to the Biden administration for approving $60 million in immediate aid. President Joe Biden has said the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge.

THE LATEST RIGHT NOW

Cranes arrived overnight in Baltimore, and began the long process of removing the debris of the fallen bridge and cargo ship
Four missing workers are still unaccounted for. Coast Guard officials say all four are presumed dead following Tuesday’s collapse.
The bodies of 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were recovered from a red pickup truck submerged in about 25 feet of water.
The focus now turns to investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and as safely as possible.
President Joe Biden approved $60 million in funding for recovery efforts
Preliminary investigation shows this was not intentional.
Baltimore Beltway/I-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk (traffic map here).

The iconic Baltimore bridge collapsed around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when the container ship Dali slammed into a pillar, causing a long span of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River.

VIDEO: Officials announce approved federal funding for Key Bridge

At least eight people went into the water. Two were rescued, but the other six, part of a construction crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, were missing and presumed dead.

The search for the missing changed from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission late Tuesday night, 18 hours after the workers disappeared.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts we've put into it, the water temperature, we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals alive, and so this evening around 7:30, we are going to suspend active search and rescue efforts," U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said Tuesday.

The search for the missing turned into a salvage operation Wednesday, as officials said the bridge's superstructure is blocking diver access to the remaining victims.

"We have exhausted all search efforts and the areas around this wreckage, and based on the sonar scans, we firmly believe the (remaining) vehicles are encased in the superstructure and concrete that we tragically saw come down," Maryland State Police Col. Ronald Butler Jr.

Jesus Campos, who has worked on the bridge for Brawner Builders and knows members of the construction crew who died, said he was told they were on a break and some were sitting in their trucks to warm up when the bridge collapsed.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Gov. Wes Moore submitted an emergency $60 million request for funding from the federal government. He announced Thursday evening that request was approved.

"We want to be clear — $60 million is just a down payment, not the final payment," U.S. Department of Transportation official Shailen Bhatt said.

First, crews will clear debris from the channel, then remove the cargo ship, before removing the rest of the bridge debris from the water. Cranes are on the way to do that. One will arrive Friday, another on Saturday.

Efforts so far have been largely focused on the search for the missing workers. But the focus will soon shift to two main objectives: investigating what happened and reopening the channel as quickly and safely as possible.

VIDEO: NTSB provides timeline of events from Dali

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators boarded the vessel and obtained a general timeline of events via the ship's voyage recorder data.

At 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, numerous alarms went off on the bridge, and the VDR stopped. Two minutes later, it started again. That's when the pilots put out the first call for tugboats to assist. At 1:27 a.m., the pilot of the ship ordered the port anchor to drop and radioed that the ship lost power and was approaching the bridge. That's when the U.S. Coast Guard instructed the MDTA to shut down the bridge, and all lanes were closed.

The VRD recorded the collision about two minutes later at 1:29 a.m.

Officials also determined the ship has 56 containers containing 764 tons of hazardous materials that federal agencies are working to address.

"Some of the hazmat containers were breached. We have seen sheen on the waterway," Homendy said.

But according to Moore, there is no indication of any serious threat at this time.

Officials said a preliminary report should be released by the NTSB in 2-4 weeks, with a final report not expected for 12-24 months.

SHIP UNDERWENT ENGINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE CRASH

The ship that crashed into a bridge in Baltimore was undergoing "routine engine maintenance" in the port beforehand, the Coast Guard said.

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference on Wednesday that authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo routine engine maintenance before it lost power. But he said authorities were not informed of any problems.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said the cargo ship was carrying hazardous materials.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy says there are 56 containers aboard containing hazardous materials, including corrosives, flammables and lithium-ion batteries.

She said some containers were breached and a sheen there was a sheen in the water that will be dealt with by authorities. She said the voyage data recorder has been recovered.

Homendy said the investigation could take 12 to 24 months but that the NTSB would not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time. She said a preliminary report should be released in two to four weeks.

“It’s a massive undertaking for an investigation,” Homendy said. “It’s a very tragic event.”

PORT OF BALTIMORE OPERATIONS

The Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice. The port is not shut down and they are still processing trucks inside of the terminals.

Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will close until further notice. All truck traffic must enter through the Seagirt main gate at 2600 Broening Highway.

The Seagirt main gate will not be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled. It will close at the normal time of 4:30 p.m.

The Seagirt Marine Terminal will be closed on Good Friday.

NO INDICATIONS OF TERRORISM

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.

The FBI released the following statement, saying: "There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state and federal levels."

Video below captures collapse of Key Bridge

The ship underwent 27 inspections since the Dali came into service in 2016. There were no issues until June, when Chilean authorities found deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary machinery.

DHS said the Dali lost propulsion as it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection particularly interesting.

SkyTeam 11 video below shows bridge collapse & point of impact

A STATE OF EMERGENCY

The governor's office released a statement, saying: "My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

"I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.

"We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety."

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse starting at 9 a.m. and will remain in place for 30 days, which enables the mobilization of emergency services and resources.

Video below: Lester Holt — 'Sometimes you see life change on a dime'

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "This is a tragedy you can never imagine. Never did you think you would see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of a movie ... Our focus should be the preservation of life."

"We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We have a long road ahead, not just in the search and rescue but in the fallout after this."

ALTERNATE ROUTES

Interstate 695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.

Interstate 95/Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum height: 14 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 11 feet)
Interstate 895/Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum height: 13 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 8 feet)

Vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane of more than 10 pounds) are prohibited in tunnels and should use the western section of I-695 around tunnels.

See official truck routes through Baltimore City here.

BIDEN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PAY TO REBUILD

President Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and state.

Video: President speaks about bridge collapse

"We're with you. We're going to stay with you for as long as it takes. Like the governor said, you're Maryland tough, you're Baltimore strong, and we're going to get through this together, and I promise we're not leaving," Biden said.

The president called on Congress to put into motion the federal government paying for the construction of a replacement bridge.

"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost to reconstruct the bridge," Biden said.

Buttigieg said the president's plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He said the administration is prepared to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.

Video below: NTSB provides update on Key Bridge collapse

The Federal Highway Administration released a statement, saying: "The I-695 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and we stand ready to offer technical assistance — including emergency relief funding — to help manage traffic and rebuild the bridge as quickly and safely as possible.

"In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and local officials in the region, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the city of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others.

"Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site today to offer federal support and assistance."

WHAT'S NEXT?

The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.

“Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site Tuesday, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet deep.

“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” he said at a news conference in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”

Highway signs as far south as Virginia are warning drivers of delays associated with the closure of the bridge.

“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore’s port “critical components’’ of the nation’s infrastructure.

Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city’s tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.

WHERE IS THE BRIDGE?

The Key Bridge opened in 1977, completing the Baltimore Beltway's circumference around the city. The bridge is southeast of the city proper and spans from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.

According to a Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.

Federal Highway Administration records show the bridge was last inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in fair condition overall at a rating of six (satisfactory) out of nine on three parameters. These inspections are supposed to occur every 24 months.

The Key Bridge was indeed last inspected in May 2023 and "found to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair," per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection found the bridge was in fair condition as well.

HOW TO DONATE

The Baltimore Civic Fund is offering a way for people to contribute to the families of the victims.

"In light of this tragic loss of life, we are opening a donation account to support these victims' families and the families of the survivors. The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy," the website states.

Click here to learn more.