Effort to clear Key Bridge ruins inches forward as officials lobby for aid

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Maryland leaders are urging Congress to approve aid money to reopen the Port of Baltimore's shipping channel and rebuild the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The recovery operation to clear the bridge's ruins from the Patapsco River is ongoing, with each phase posing risks. Demolition crews are cutting portions of the collapsed bridge truss, while dive teams survey the bridge and the stuck cargo ship known as the Dali. Maryland officials argue that the ripple effects of the bridge collapse will impact people and businesses across the country. An initial $60 million in aid has been received, but Maryland may request more than $600 million for recovery and over $1 billion to erect a new bridge. House Republicans may face a rift in deciding whether to support legislation for Baltimore. Democrats are pressuring Republicans to approve funding, emphasizing the importance of the port to the American economy. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the complexity of the recovery process, including the need to remove wreckage without causing further damage. The recovery effort also aims to recover the remains of the four workers who are presumed dead. The Army Corps of Engineers is committed to finding and honoring the fallen workers. The recovery operation involves the use of cranes and barges to remove debris and open a channel for vessels to pass through.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/31/baltimore-bridge-collapse-recovery-aid/