The U.S. government has approved $60 million in aid for Maryland to rebuild a bridge in Baltimore that caved in after a cargo ship collided with it.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is supplying funds for immediate repairs following the collision of the Francis Scott Key Bridge with the 984-foot Singapore-flagged ship named Dali, which lost power while trying to leave Baltimore Harbor.
“This money serves as an initial payment for the early expenses, and further funding from the Emergency Relief program will be provided as the work progresses,” DOT stated.
The funds will assist the state government as it works on reconstructing and fixing the bridge.
The vessel, carrying about 4,700 containers, crashed into the bridge during the early hours of Tuesday after experiencing propulsion failure. This event resulted in six fatalitiesand the bridge collapse led to a standstill in traffic within one of the busiest U.S. ports.
“The unforgettable images of a container ship colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and resulting in the tragic loss of six lives, will never be forgotten,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement.
“The federal emergency funds being released today will help Maryland begin urgent repairs, followed by additional resources as the recovery and rebuilding efforts continue.”
President Biden had previously pledged that the federal government would spare no effort to rebuild the bridge. “No one will forget the shocking images of a container vessel hitting the Francis Scott Key Bridge, leading to its collapse and the tragic loss of six individuals,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated. In a statement,
federal officials informed Maryland authorities that rebuilding the bridge could cost up to $2 billion. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the incident.
Biden’s proposal to cover the project expenses has faced criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly conservative spending hawks who were already displeased with the recent passage of the spending package, which they claimed involved excessive spending.
“The idea of the Federal Government footing the bill for the Baltimore bridge is COMPLETELY ABSURD!!” remarked Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.)
in a statement to The Hill . “This perfectly illustrates the old saying ‘ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL!!’”The U.S. government has approved $60 million in aid for Maryland to rebuild a bridge in Baltimore that collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is providing funding for immediate repairs following the collision of the Francis Scott Key Bridge with the 984-foot Singapore-flagged ship named Dali, which lost power while trying to…
