Engineers successfully used high explosive charges to cut steel on the bridge truss resting on the bow of the MV Dali in the Patapsco River outside Baltimore Harbour. This action is a significant step towards fully reopening the river.
The largest remaining piece of the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland was demolished with precision cutting charges on Monday afternoon. Engineers strategically placed the charges at key joints on the truss over several weeks, culminating in a successful blast that caused the majority of the truss to fall off the bow of the MV Dali and into the river. Some parts of the bridge remain on the ship, and it is unclear whether they will be removed or taken with the Dali when it is floated off later this month.
The incident occurred after the Dali container ship collided with the bridge in late March, causing the structure to collapse and block the mouth of Baltimore Harbour. Emergency channels have been cleared, but the main Federal Channel remains obstructed. The demolition charges have brought Baltimore closer to reopening the main channel and restoring the port’s capacity.
Maryland governor Wes Moore expressed confidence in reopening the full 50′ channel and commended the engineers for their swift progress. The Dali will be refloated and moved back to the harbour wall for repairs before re-entering commercial service.
