In a carefully orchestrated demolition, a significant portion of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, was brought down through a controlled explosion. The primary objective of this operation was to release the cargo ship Dali, which had collided with and caused the bridge’s destruction back in March.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott commended the demolition team via social media, lauding their precision and safety in executing the operation. “This marks a crucial milestone in our collective endeavor to clear the channel. We are committed to achieving this task collaboratively and effectively,” Mayor Scott remarked.
Despite facing two weather-related delays, the demolition was ultimately carried out successfully on Monday evening. Utilizing controlled explosives, the bridge was dismantled, initiating the process of freeing the Dali vessel.
The Key Bridge Response Unified Command, responsible for coordinating the response efforts, detailed the use of precision cuts employing small charges. This technique, a standard procedure in controlled demolitions, effectively breaks down the bridge into manageable sections, facilitating the extraction and relocation of the vessel from the federal channel.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning 2.6 kilometers and serving as a crucial segment of Interstate 695, had collapsed on March 26 following a collision with the container ship Dali, which experienced a power failure.
The incident led to eight individuals falling into the water, with two being rescued, one in critical condition. Tragically, six road maintenance workers who were present on the bridge during the collision lost their lives.
The recovery efforts concluded with the retrieval of the body of the sixth and final missing worker last Tuesday.