Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials detailed traffic impacts and current plans for rebuilding at a press conference following the early morning collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore.
The bridge collapsed after being hit by a large containership, sending vehicles and at least 20 people into the water in what police are treating as a mass-casualty incident.
As the search and rescue mission continues, MDOT officials at the press conference advised motorists on the following traffic detours:
- Avoid Interstate 695 Southeast corridor.
- Use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.
- I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 the Peninsula Expressway and northbound at exit 2 Route 10.
MDOT said it's too early to set their sights on rebuilding the structure with an active search and rescue mission. However, they have "reached out to a number of engineering companies" to be preemptive in the process.
The original span took about 5 years to complete in the 1970s.
