President Joe Biden is set to visit the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore on Friday, the White House announced.
The visit aims to allow the President to meet with officials and gain an "on-the-ground look at federal response efforts."
During his visit, Biden intends to meet with the "loved ones" of the six workers who tragically lost their lives in the bridge collapse, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The collapse occurred when the container ship Dali struck the bridge around 1:30 a.m. on March 26, causing a partial collapse, as reported by Maryland officials.
It is believed that six construction workers fell into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River during the collapse.
While two bodies have been recovered, four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials stated.
"These were hard workers laboring in the middle of the night to repair potholes on a bridge that tens of thousands of travelers crossed every day," Jean-Pierre mentioned during a briefing on Thursday.
Biden will be accompanied by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and other Baltimore officials during his visit.
The President is expected to receive updates on response efforts and wreckage removal.
The White House has approved $60 million in emergency funding to aid in the initial mobilization and debris recovery efforts for Baltimore. Governor Moore expressed gratitude for the support but acknowledged the "very long road ahead" for Baltimore, noting that the reconstruction will be an "incredibly complex job."
"The president is continuing to lead a whole-of-government approach in responding to the bridge collapse," Jean-Pierre reiterated during the briefing.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge sees an annual traffic volume of 11.3 million vehicles, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
The Port of Baltimore, as of 2021, ranks as the nation's 17th largest in annual total tonnage of cargo and generates 15,300 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs connected to port activities, Governor Moore stated in February.
In ongoing efforts to support the local economy amid recovery, the government has launched two business recovery centers in Baltimore County, announced Jean-Pierre. These centers aim to assist impacted business owners in completing their disaster loan applications.
The Department of Labor is also collaborating with local and state officials to determine how to assist workers who are out of work due to the closure of the port.
The crash is believed to be accidental, not intentional, officials have confirmed. The Singapore-flagged, 984-foot container ship Dali, operated by a Singaporean company, is said to have "limited liability" in the aftermath of the crash, as per lawyers representing the company in a lawsuit filed Monday.
"The casualty was not due to any fault, neglect, or want of care on the part of Petitioners, the Vessel, or persons or entities for whose petitioners may be responsible," court documents filed in Maryland federal court state.
The White House remains committed to a unified approach to recovery efforts, emphasizing collaboration with Governor Moore, the congressional delegation, Mayor Brandon Scott, and various state and local officials to reopen the port, rebuild the bridge, and support the people of Baltimore through the unified command, Jean-Pierre noted during a briefing on Monday.
Officials have opened a small temporary channel for boats involved in the bridge response efforts.