US crews in Baltimore set off controlled explosions to allow them to remove a portion of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the bow of the massive container ship that toppled following a collision in March.
The detonations were meant to break the bridge’s truss into small sections, enabling salvage crews to use cranes and barges to haul away the twisted metal wreckage, the US Army Corps of Engineers said.
The work, originally planned for Sunday, was delayed because of weather conditions.
The US. Army Corps of Engineers and state officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how successful the detonations were.
In the early morning of 26 March, the ship, the Dali, lost power and crashed into a bridge support, sending the span into the Patapsco River, with a major portion draped over the Dali’s Bow.
Six construction workers were killed following the collision.
The incident initially halted traffic at the Port of Baltimore, which ranks first in the US in several cargo categories, including autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported sugar and imported gypsum, according to the state of Maryland.
Since the crash, four temporary channels have been opened, allowing for some shipping to resume.
The Corps said it aims to restore port access to full capacity by the end of May.
Maryland officials estimate it will cost up to $1.9 billion (€1.76 billion) to rebuild the bridge and anticipates completion by Autumn 2028.
In April, the FBI opened a criminal probe into the collapse.
Safety investigators recovered the ship’s “black box” recorder, which provides data on its position, speed, heading, radar, and bridge audio and radio communications, as well as alarms.
