Commencement of Debris Removal Operations for the Destroyed Baltimore Bridge; Large Crane Barges Deployed to the Site

Two days after the collapse of a key bridge in Maryland, USA, large crane barges were dispatched to the site on Thursday to begin the operation of retrieving steel structures and large concrete pieces from the water. The container ship 'Dolly' collided with the 'Francis Scott Key' bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, causing the destruction of the concrete foundation and the collapse of the steel structure of the bridge, resulting in the disappearance and death of several workers who were working there. Cargo ships will not be able to access the vital Baltimore port in the eastern United States, one of the largest and most important ports in the country, until the steel structure of the bridge and large concrete pieces are cleared from the river. Additionally, until the cleanup operation is completed, divers' search for the remains of four remaining construction workers who fell from the bridge will face obstacles. The bodies of two other victims were found on Wednesday. Experts say it may take weeks to complete the debris removal and cleanup operation, and as a result, the shipping route in the deep waters leading to the Baltimore city port will remain closed to the maritime transport network. The cost of the cleanup operation is estimated at $60 million. The 'Francis Scott Key' bridge, which was 47 years old and about 2.5 kilometers long, was a key communication link in the regional highway network, and its absence has a significant negative impact on urban traffic and ground transportation. While President Joe Biden intends to act quickly to construct a new bridge and the federal government will provide the financial resources for it, the project to build a new bridge is expected to take more than a year. The state of Maryland is under the shock of the collapse of this massive and important bridge in the port city of Baltimore.