Crews are set to conduct a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining steel span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The collapse occurred when the ship Dali lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support columns shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore. The ship has been stuck amidst the wreckage and the port has been closed to most maritime traffic since then. The demolition was postponed due to thunderstorms on Sunday, but officials are aiming to fully reopen the port’s busy shipping channel by the end of the month.
The controlled demolition will use precision cuts to control how the trusses break down, ensuring they fall away from the Dali when explosives send them tumbling into the water. Once the span is demolished, hydraulic grabbers will lift the broken steel sections onto barges. This will allow the Dali to be refloated and guided back into the port, enabling maritime traffic to return to normal. The ship’s crew will remain below deck during the explosive demolition, with measures in place for their safety such as fire teams stationed nearby and a “water curtain” to shield the ship from potential flames.
The Dali is scheduled to be refloated during high tide on Tuesday, with tugboats guiding it to a nearby terminal at the port for temporary repairs. The crew, consisting of 21 members, has been on board since the collapse on March 26. State and federal officials have praised the salvage crews and other members of the cleanup operation for their efforts, which included recovering the remains of six construction workers who were killed in the collapse. The last body was recovered last week, and all victims were Latino immigrants.
The operation remains on track to reopen the port’s deep draft channel by the end of May, with a temporary channel established until then. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi compared the Key Bridge disaster to the War of 1812 attack on Fort McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner. Pelosi, who is a Baltimore native, commended the collective response to the tragedy and the resilience shown by Maryland. She attended a news conference with two of her relatives and praised the quick and collaborative efforts of various government agencies in response to the disaster.
The cleanup and demolition process are being conducted with safety as a top priority, with no injuries reported during the operations. The crew of the Dali will remain on board for the demolition to ensure the ship’s safety and operational readiness. The reopening of the port will provide relief for thousands of workers affected by the closure, including longshoremen, truckers, and small business owners. The restoration of normal maritime traffic will be a significant step towards recovery for the port of Baltimore, which is one of the busiest in the country.
