Disaster at Key Bridge
26/03/24 07:38
March 26, 2024 (Vol. 18 No. 16) - Bridges are more than traffic infrastructure. They are conveyances of communication, culture and commerce. They are literally lifelines for communities. As one who has written a book about bridges in the state of Maryland, specifically the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that spans the mouth of Baltimore harbor comes as a shock. At the time of this writing, rescue operations are underway with at least seven people reported missing. Considering how cold the water is and that sonar has indicated that are several automobiles detected under the water, there could be a high human toll. That it be a major economic disaster for the nation's ninth busiest port. Key Bridge, a major component of next of I-695, the Baltimore Beltway, handles 31,000 vehicles daily. This is not just local traffic - much of it is interstate commerce traversing the East Coast. Cross-harbor traffic will now to diverted to the city's two already congested harbor tunnels. A larger consideration is the impact on shipping. Baltimore harbor handled record tonnage last year - a welcome development follow the COVID-related economic slump. It may be weeks or months before ships can enter the port. The Key Bridge is among several water crossings - including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - made possible by the state's innovative Primary Bridge Program. The PBP is a toll-revenue sharing program that gives the state budgetary flexibility to meet the state's transportation needs. As officials move from rescue to response operations, the first order of business will be to open the shipping channel to keep commerce flowing. Obviously, there will be federal, state and private investigations into what happened. This may result in criminal charges. It most certainly will result in major lawsuits. As for the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, the loss of the Key Bridge is a disaster of major proportions. That's it for now. Fear the Turtle.