Workers successfully removed a 200-tonne segment of the collapsed bridge from the Patapsco River, marking a significant milestone in the effort to restore access for barges and tugboats to reach the disaster site.
The workers are now focused on lifting another section of the bridge while allowing the crumpled part to remain resting on a container ship nearby. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has stated that there is currently no timeline for reopening the Port of Baltimore, but efforts are ongoing to alleviate the impact of the bridge collapse.
In response to the incident, the Captain of the Port of Baltimore is making preparations to open an alternate channel near the bridge to facilitate the movement of vessels. Meanwhile, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has faced criticism for racist remarks falsely attributing the incident to diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
Mayor Scott quickly dismissed the comments, stating that he is well aware of how racism operates in the country and reaffirming that the focus should remain on addressing the loss of life and the disaster at hand. The city is united in its efforts to overcome this tragedy and restore normalcy to the impacted area, while moving past divisive remarks.
As the cleanup and recovery efforts continue, the community remains hopeful for a swift resolution to the challenges posed by the bridge collapse, with the ultimate goal of reopening the Port of Baltimore to full operation in the near future.
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