In the still of the night, they labored on the renowned bridge, a lifeline for 30,000 Marylanders, patching its wounds, fixing its potholes.
Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning when a 213-million-pound cargo vessel collided with the bridge, hurling the workers into the icy waters below.
Despite a day-long search, officials called off the rescue, presuming the workers dead. Maryland State Police later recovered two bodies from a submerged pickup truck. Surviving the 50-foot-deep, frigid waters for hours was nearly impossible, and the risk was too great for divers to navigate the debris-laden darkness.
The sorrow has transcended borders. Rafael Laveaga, chief of the Mexican Embassy's consular section in Washington, expressed, "We know our people are involved... they're the ones who are going to rebuild the bridge – the Latinos."
As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shared details of the collision, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized their focus on reuniting families.
"I just want to extend our deepest, deepest condolences...Our aim is to prevent this from happening again, and we are so, so very sorry for all that you are going through."
The six workers hailed from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala. Here are some of their stories:
Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 38, a father of two, was reported missing by his family in Baltimore. Originally from Honduras, he had lived in the US for 18 years, seeking a better life. Maynor, also an entrepreneur, started a maintenance company.
Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, was a husband and father of three who had called Maryland home for 19 years.
He left for work on Monday evening and had not returned home by Tuesday.
Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, from Guatemala, had been working at Brawner Builders for at least three years. He was driven by the dream of helping his family and had no children.
The families of these workers are grappling with the tragedy, hoping for miracles, but preparing for the worst.
They seek closure, to repatriate the bodies to their home countries, to lay their loved ones to rest. Their stories paint a picture of dreams, hard work, and the pursuit of a better life, tragically cut short on a fateful night.