Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on response

The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Riley Hoffman, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: April 1, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

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Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 27, 7:05 pm

What to know about the collapse

The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.

A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the bridge collapsed, Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.

Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Apr 01, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

Channel needs to be cleared more in order to recover 4 remaining victims

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Monday gave an update on his four directives in the wake of the bridge collapse.

In order to achieve his first goal -- recovering the four victims who remain missing -- Moore said there needs to be more work done to clear the channel in order to move forward.

A portion of the bridge under the water was described as "chaotic wreckage," Moore said, and the water is "so murky and so filled with debris that divers cannot see any more than a foot or two in front of them."

A search team uses a remotely operated underwater vehicle to look at the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed when a cargo ship collided with it earlier this week, on March 29, 2024 in Baltimore.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Every time a diver goes in the water to search for a victim, "they are taking a risk," Moore said.

The governor said he wants the recovery mission to be completed with no casualties. Six people have been killed in the bridge collapse, Moore said, adding, "I refuse to lose any more."

As for another goal -- reopening channel traffic -- the governor described the scale of the project as "enormous."

Demolition crews cut the top portion of the north side of the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, MD, March 30, 2024.
US Coast Guard/via Reuters

"Unified Command has scheduled another lift for later today, pending conditions -- specifically pending lightning. And they will be lifting an estimated 350-ton piece from the bridge," Moore said.

A temporary channel opened Monday to help get more vessels in the water around the site of the collapse, he said.

Part of the steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the bridge collapsed in Baltimore, Md., on March 26, 2024.
Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

"The temporary channel will be marked with government lights to aid navigation and will have a controlling depth of 11 feet," Moore said.

Crews are also working on creating a second temporary channel that will measure about 15 feet deep, he said. That's expected to open "in the coming days," he said.

After more debris is cleared, crews will also work to open a third alternate channel with a depth expected around 20 to 25 feet, said Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath, commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District. No timeline for this channel is known.

Apr 01, 2024, 12:48 PM EDT

Biden to visit bridge on Friday

President Joe Biden will visit the Baltimore bridge site on Friday, April 5, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

This handout photo obtained from the US Coast Guard shows a portion of of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting upon the container ship Dali in Baltimore, MD, March 30, 2024.
Kimberly Reaves/US COAST GUARD/Getty Images

Biden will be joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.

Jean-Pierre did not have any updates on the cost of rebuilding the bridge, repeatedly pointing back to the $60 million in emergency relief funds approved by the Biden administration to begin the recovery efforts.

"We're going to have continued conversation with the state of Maryland to get a sense of how much this is going to cost, and we have said, we are going to certainly continue to talk to Congress to get some assistance here," she said.

-ABC News' Karen Travers

Apr 01, 2024, 12:33 PM EDT

Temporary channel opens

A temporary channel has opened in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but the channel is limited only to vessels working on the bridge response, the Unified Command said.

The fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD, is pictured March 31, 2024.
Mike Pesoli/AP

The temporary channel is a very small opening, only accessible for small boats, the Unified Command said.

The Unified Command is made up of agencies including the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland State Police.

The channel is limited only to vessels working on the bridge response.
4:20

Temporary channel opens for limited access in Baltimore bridge collapse

The channel is limited only to vessels working on the bridge response.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney

Apr 01, 2024, 6:19 AM EDT

Mayor warns of heavy rain on Monday

Baltimore was expecting heavy rain on Monday morning, adding to potential delays for commuters already "expecting delays" because of the bridge collapse, the mayor said.

"Baltimore — we know we're already expecting delays due to the ongoing situation with the Key Bridge Collapse," Mayor Brandon M. Scott said on social media.

He added, "With the added complication of this expected weather, please allow for extra time during your commutes and be patient for your fellow Baltimoreans!"

The National Weather Service, which is publishing hour-by-hour forecasts for the area near the Key Bridge response, said Monday morning will bring winds gusts up to 15 mph and an about 92% chance of precipitation, which may taper off after about 9 a.m.