Monthslong demolition of Key Bridge remnants to begin July 7

Photo and text curtesy of the Baltimore Banner

Fifteen months after the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s main span collapsed into the Patapsco River, the rest of the structure finally has a demolition date.

Beginning “on or about July 7, weather permitting,” mechanical destruction of the bridge’s remnants will begin, the Maryland Transportation Authority said in a news release Thursday.

Since the Dali container ship lost power and plowed into the bridge on March 26, 2024, killing six construction workers, the bridge’s still-standing ramps have served as an eerie reminder of the catastrophe. They will be brought down to make way for the replacement span.

“Demolition work is expected to take several months to complete and will involve the use of heavy machinery to carefully dismantle the remaining portions of the Key Bridge,” the news release stated.

Continue reading here at the Baltimore Banner…

Multimedia Release: Unified Command salvage crews successfully remove final steel truss blocking the Fort McHenry Federal Channel

BALTIMORE – Ten weeks after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, salvage crews successfully removed the final large steel truss segment blocking the 700-foot-wide Fort McHenry Federal Channel on June 3-4.

Using concrete breakers, underwater surveys, and oxyacetylene torches, they separated tons of concrete roadway, cable, and steel rebar from "Section 4C" while removing debris with clamshell dredges.

On May 20, Unified Command had cleared the Federal Channel to a width of 400 feet and a depth of 50 feet, allowing deep-draft commercial vessels to access the Port of Baltimore. Full restoration is projected by June 8-10.

For more images, video, and information, visit the incident website here.

Unified Command opens limited access deep draft channel

BALTIMORE – The Captain of the Port established a fourth channel, the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel, which will run the length of the northeast side of the federal channel, and provide additional access to commercially essential traffic.

The Limited Access Deep Draft Channel, has a controlling depth of 35 feet, a 300-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 214 feet, and will facilitate some larger deep draft vessels, large marine tugs, and MARAD vessels through the Port of Baltimore. Infographic courtesy of Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command.

The limited access deep draft channel has a controlling depth of a minimum of 35 feet, a 300-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 214 feet. Additional restrictions for transits are outlined in MSIB 043-24, including weather limitations which may impact the transit window.

Continue reading this and more updates on the Key Bridge from the MPA here.