President Joe Biden is set to visit the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, where efforts are underway to clear the debris and reopen the vital shipping lane. The bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship on March 26, tragically resulting in the deaths of six workers, with only two bodies recovered so far.
The President will meet with the families of the victims and receive updates from the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers on the progress of the cleanup. The collapse has disrupted the flow of cargo through Baltimore’s port, with as much as $200 million in goods passing through daily.
The Federal Highway Administration has allocated $60 million in emergency relief funds to kickstart the cleanup and reconstruction efforts. Estimates suggest that the recovery could cost at least $400 million and take 18 months to complete. President Biden has pledged that the federal government will cover the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has raised questions about infrastructure funding and the need for bipartisan support in Congress. The Biden administration is calling on lawmakers to authorize federal funding to cover 100% of the cleanup and reconstruction costs, similar to efforts made after the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse.
The political implications of the bridge collapse are significant, as Biden faces off against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. The incident highlights the urgent need for infrastructure investment and the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of the nation’s transportation networks.