In the Port of Baltimore, a limited access channel will open to get cargo traffic in motion again. According to the White House, the channel should be complete by the end of April.
On Friday night, a temporary channel northeast of the main shipping lanes opened. However, that will only restore approximately 15% of the pre-collapse activity in the port.
Over the weekend, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld discussed the port’s progress and continued collaboration in response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse with officials from the White House, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, and Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
"Participants emphasized the need for a smooth return of cargo traffic to the port as the channel is reopened and went over the standard operating procedures for reopening maritime traffic after incidents," the White House said in a statement.
They also discussed efforts to support construction workers including the PORT Act and the Port of Baltimore Worker Retention Program.
Efforts to ensure a rapid rebuild of the bridge were also discussed.
"The White House will continue to work in lockstep with state and federal partners to minimize the impacts of the devastating collapse and to support affected communities," the White House said.
Gov. Moore and other leaders said the bridge will be rebuilt, calling it a necessity.
"For Baltimore and our region, the port is more than just history. It is a major economic bet that we're leaning into for our future, and we need to rebuild the Key Bridge to deliver the economic development opportunity for America," Mark Anthony Thomas, CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee, said.
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Source: CBS News
