The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told FOX News Digital that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide an estimate of when the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge will be removed from the Patapsco River, allowing maritime traffic to flow freely into the Port of Patapsco. He said it was “premature.” Baltimore again.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the military, along with the Coast Guard, was tasked with cleaning up the area as part of the rebuilding process, warning Wednesday that “it’s not going to be quick, it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be cheap.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told Fox News Digital that “it is too early to provide an estimate of a timeline for channel removal and reactivation.” “At this time, our priority remains providing support to the recovery efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and our state and local partners.”
The Army Corps of Engineers says the Baltimore District has activated its emergency operations center, with “more than 1,100 engineering, construction, contracting and operations professionals” providing assistance to local, state and federal agencies in response to Tuesday’s bridge collapse. announced that it was possible.
Live updates: Baltimore bridge collapse
Dali’s cargo ship rests on the remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Baltimore. (AP/Matt Rourke)
The bureau said it would provide underwater assessment capabilities, structural engineering support including “certified bridge safety inspectors and urban search and rescue structural engineering experts,” and the removal of debris in waterways that could pose a threat to navigation. ing.
Two bodies were pulled from the river Wednesday after divers found a submerged red pickup truck. Four other construction workers remain missing and are presumed dead after the collapse.
Could a protective fence have prevented the Baltimore Bridge from collapsing?
In this image taken from video released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali is trapped under part of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. (NTSB/AP)
“Based on the situation, we are currently moving from recovery mode to a salvage operation due to the superstructure and large amount of concrete and debris surrounding what appears to be a vehicle. Divers are no longer able to safely navigate or work around the area. ”in the area surrounding this wreckage,” said Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also said Wednesday that “we don’t know at this point what the total cost will be” and “we don’t yet know what the full schedule will be.”
The image released Wednesday by the National Transportation Safety Board shows NTSB investigators aboard the cargo ship Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. (Peter Knudson/NTSB/AP)
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“But what I do know is that the challenges before us will be real. It will be daunting. “Despite the difficult challenges ahead, I can say now that our resolve is unwavering,” he said. Added. “We will get there. We will do it together. This work will take time, but we will leave no one behind. We will take care of our people. Masu.”
