Crews are working to restore the federal channel of debris from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but they need more time before shipping traffic can be fully restored.
Although the end of May was the goal for state and federal officials, a news release put out Friday says that work will conclude by June 10.
“We are not taking our foot off the gas,” Col. Estee S. Pinchasin, Baltimore District commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, said in the release. “We are pushing forward as quickly and safely as possible to reach 700 feet and ensuring we remove all wreckage to prevent any impact to future navigation.”
According to the release, the adjusted time accounts for the complexity of cutting and rigging required to lift portions of the large span. It also accounts for safety measures and inclement weather.
“This effort is more complex than initially estimated,” Pinchasin said. “Salvage crews must dig out the bottom cord of this truss to access the areas needing to be cut.”
After Monday’s move of the Dali, a channel into the Baltimore harbor opened Tuesday.
The Coast Guard said Tuesday that 24-hour commercial vessel traffic through the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel had commenced. Deep-draft vessels, which must be accompanied by a Maryland pilot and two escort tugboats, have priority in the 50-foot-deep channel, though shallower commercial ships can use the three existing alternate channels.
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Source: Baltimore Sun, CBS
