Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appears on “Fox News Sunday” to discuss efforts to clean up and rebuild the collapsed Baltimore bridge.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Sunday that his state would not be the only one to feel the economic impact of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Port of Baltimore, warning that it would ripple through many industries across the country. .
Appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” Moore said one of the nation’s busiest ports remains open as authorities continue to remove steel debris from a collapsed bridge and a ship the size of the Eiffel Tower blocks shipping lanes. He spoke about the important role it plays in the national economy.
“It’s not just the devastating impact on Maryland,” the Democrat said. “This has a huge impact on the national economy.”
Moore said the Port of Baltimore handles more cars, large trucks and agricultural equipment than any other port in the United States, so it has a far-reaching impact on states across the country.
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The Francis Scott Key Bridge and Dali Freighter photographed on Friday. This comes three days after the ship collided with the supports supporting the bridge. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“This is impacting Kentucky farmers,” Moore said. “It’s impacting car dealerships in Ohio. It’s impacting restaurants in Louisiana and Tennessee. This is impacting the entire country.”
Economists predict that Americans will feel the “pinch” of inflation on their grocery bills, gas prices and other goods as the collapse disrupts port and maritime traffic.
An aerial view of the cargo ship Dali, which was destroyed after colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. (Tassos Katopodis/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The American Trucking Associations told FOX Business last week that an estimated 4,900 trucks cross the bridge every day, transporting about $28 billion in goods annually.
The port is the busiest in the united states According to Maryland Port Authority data, motor vehicle transportation will handle more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023. It is also the largest port in the United States in terms of agricultural equipment, construction machinery, and agricultural products handled.
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Moore said it is essential to remove the debris and rebuild the bridge, but he did not provide a timeline when asked, emphasizing that it is a “very complex task.”
The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports in the United States. (Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File/Getty Images)
“We know it will be a long road to recovery, but we also know we must act safely and with speed to get commercial engines going again,” the governor said.
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“I hope the investigation is carried out quickly and that those who should be held accountable are held accountable,” Moore said. “And at the same time, we have to open this waterway. We have to get commerce flowing again. And we have to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”
Fox Business’ Daniella Genovese, Greg Normand and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
