Maryland Governor Wes Moore has called for bipartisan cooperation to secure federal funding for the reconstruction of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed earlier this week.
The tragic incident, resulting in the deaths of six road workers, occurred when a container ship, nearly the size of the Eiffel Tower, lost power and collided with a support pylon, causing a significant portion of the bridge to fall into the Patapsco River, blocking the Port of Baltimore's shipping channel.
The Biden administration has already allocated $60 million in initial emergency aid to assist in the cleanup and reopening of the port, which is crucial for the import and export of vehicles, farm equipment, and construction machinery.
However, the total cost of rebuilding the bridge is estimated to exceed $2 billion, according to reports.
President Biden has promised federal support, contingent upon approval from both the Republican-led House of Representatives and the Democratic-led Senate.
Governor Moore emphasized the importance of this funding not just for Baltimore but for the national economy, as the Port of Baltimore plays a vital role in economic growth.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg expressed confidence in Congress's ability to approve the necessary funds, noting the bipartisan nature of infrastructure and emergency response efforts.
He highlighted that Congress had already passed Biden's $1 trillion infrastructure package in 2021.
Efforts to remove debris from the collapsed bridge have begun, but officials have not provided a timeline for the reopening of the port or the reconstruction of the bridge.
Adverse weather conditions have also hampered search and cleanup operations.
In response to the crisis, officials are working to establish an alternate route for essential marine traffic.
However, the complexity of the cleanup and the hazardous conditions have made it challenging to provide a definitive timeline for when the port will reopen and the bridge will be rebuilt.
President Biden is expected to visit the site of the bridge collapse in the coming days to assess the situation firsthand.
Despite the challenges ahead, there is optimism that with bipartisan support, the necessary funding will be approved to rebuild the bridge and restore operations at the Port of Baltimore.