US President Joe Biden personally inspected from the air the destroyed bridge in Baltimore, which blocked an important route on the East Coast. He promised federal funding has been allocated for the reconstruction of the bridge, although it has faced resistance from a few Republican legislators in Congress.
Maryland tragedy: Biden champions accountability and recovery from collapse
On March 26, a cargo ship collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge; the bridge fell into the water, resulting in the deaths of six individuals . Work continues to remove the wreckage and restore traffic to the Maryland Ship Canal.
President Biden took a helicopter flight over the bridge crash site and met with local officials who told him about the economic impact of the accident on the Port of Baltimore, an important destination for ships carrying cars.
Against the background of the fallen bridge, Biden said: “We will not rest until the bridge is repaired and this area returns to normal.”
The President urged Congress to swiftly endorse funding for the new bridge and stressed: “I’m here to say: Your country will help you. I mean it. We will get it paid for.”
He also promised that those accountable for the bridge collapse would face consequences and compensate for the damage in full accordance with the law. Subsequently, Biden met with relatives of the six individuals affected by the bridge collapse.
Baltimore port at risk: traffic stops after bridge collapse
Local and federal authorities have expressed concern about the problems that have arisen for the regional economy as a result of the bridge disaster. Hundreds of port workers are unable to get to work because of the debris removal process, according to Maryland officials.
The Port of Baltimore is the leader in the United States in the volume of transportation of cars, trucks,farming machinery, and construction vehicles. Most of this traffic has been suspended since the incident, although some terminals outside the accident area have resumed operations.
On Friday, the White House Office of Management and Budget asked Congress to allocate federal funding for the replacement of the bridge which is estimated to cost $2 billion. Some Republican hard-liners have opposed funding for bridge repairs, which could cause problems in Congress.
However, on the same day after the bridge collapsed, Biden remarked that the federal government was willing to “cover the entire cost” of rebuilding, and his administration had already committed $60 million in immediate assistance.
Shalanda Young, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration will use every opportunity to offset costs and reduce the financial burden on American taxpayers.